Which perspective emphasizes deterrence and personal responsibility in addressing crime?

• A. Freud
• B. Realism
• C. Marxism
• D. Right realism

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how some criminology perspectives view punishment and preventing crime. Right realism centers on crime as a rational choice by individuals, so the focus is on deterrence and personal responsibility. It argues that people weigh the costs and benefits before offending, so increasing the certainty and swiftness of punishment, along with strong policing and practical measures like target-hardening, will deter crime. This approach emphasizes that individuals are accountable for their actions and should face clear consequences, which is why deterrence and personal responsibility are its hallmark. Other theories shift the focus to underlying causes—psychological factors in Freud, structural or state concerns in realism or Marxism, or social inequalities in left-leaning perspectives—rather than prioritizing deterrence in everyday policy.