right realist

realists

say sociologists should find out what goes on in society to inform government policies

right realists

crime is not a product or fault of society but a choice of an individual

3 main reasons people commit crime: biological differences, inadequate socialisation, individuals’ rational choice to offend

bio differences

Wilson and Herrnstein found that some hormones and personality traits cause a predisposition to crime

link lower IQ with criminality

inadequate socialisation

people are being brought up without proper socialisation so they lack norms and values and don’t know what’s right and wrong

Murray

concerned about underclass who rely on benefits and teach kids to rely on crime

single mother families lead to crime as boys lack male role model

rational choice theory

every time a crime is committed, someone decided the pros outweigh the cons

RCT to stop crime

government make costs of committing crime higher e.g. increasing surveillance with more CCTV and police patrolling and harsher sentences and 0 tolerance policing

3 strike rule

brought in in some states, crimes like possession of cannabis, for the 3rd strike you would have years in prison

Young

falling crime after zero tolerance policing was a myth created by politicians

AO3

ignores structural factors

Lily

low IQ - tiny minority of utilitarian crime

Wilson and Kelling

broken windows theory - if you live in a horrible area, people think the police don’t do anything so you have to clean up those areas