strengths and weaknesses of right realism

Strength of right realism

Rational choice theory has been supported in research by Rettig. Rettig Found that when students were discussing whether they would commit crimes, they were mostly influenced by consequences of their actions. This supports the rational choice idea which argues that the benefit doesn’t outweigh the cost.

Strength of right realism

It can explain why people commit opportunistic crimes. For example, a person may be more likely to steal from a shop which does not have CCTV and a distracted shopkeeper because there is an unlikely chance they will be caught.

Weakness of right realism

It is difficult to apply Murray’s study on the underclass to most criminals. By suggesting that criminals are more likely to be those who are raised in single parents household and not properly socialised, this does not explain why crimes committed by people in nuclear families.

Strength of right realism

Consider both nature and nurture in their discussion of criminal behaviour. This can be seen in their theory in which they argue that people commit crimes because they grow up with a single parent.

Weakness of right realism

Most research into the rational choice idea is based on asking people about hypothetical situation on crime. This is problematic because there is no evidence to support it.