New Right Approach

The New Right theory was developed in sociology in the 1980s. It's based on the idea that the traditional nuclear family and its values (mum, dad and kids, parents are married, dad in paid employment) are best for society. The Simpsons is a nuclear family.

New Right theorists believe that social policies on the family, children, divorce and welfar have undermined the family.

Charles Murray is a New Right socologist who says the traditional family is under threat. Murray says that welfare benefits are too high and creaye a 'culture of dependency' where an individual finds it easy and acceptable to take benefits rather than work. He also created 'underclass' which is the idea of people who live or benefits and do not work.

New Right theorists are particularly concerned about giving lots of welfare benefits to single mothers. They also think that it's a very bad idea to have children brought up in families where adults aren't working and in lone parent families or fatherless families. Moral panic and fear of breakdown in social fabric due to lone parent families.

New Right sociologists believe that the increase in lone-parent and reconstitued families and the easier access to divorce have led to a breakdown in traditional values. They say that this causes social problems such as crime increase.

Some politicians have made use of the new right theory. It's had an influence on social policy - making it harder for people to get benefits.

New Right theory has been criticised for 'blaming the victim' for their problems.

Pink - Family Portrait shows the views of New Right theory strongly.