Exam 3 - Criminological Theory

Structuralist Marxist theory differs from instrumentalist Marxist theory primarily in that it stresses…

A. The relative autonomy of the state

B. The weakness of the proletariat

C. The imposition of law and order by the capitalists

D. The loosely coupled nature of the criminal justice system

In Marxist theory, the term “bourgeoisie” refers to…

A. Those who sell their labor in the marketplace

B. State government officials

C. Those who own and control the means of production

D. A pool of unemployed people

E. The great masses of people who are controlled by the proletariat

According to Marxist theory, the control of the political state and manipulation of the legal system by the capitalist class to protect its own interests and perpetuate its position of power will change only when…

A. The capitalist class is educated to understand the oppression experienced by the masses of people under capitalist domain

B. The capitalist class realizes that both its own and the long term interests of society would be better served by making the transition to a socialistic system

C. The masses organize, recognize their common interests, and democratically elect members of their own class to fill positions of political power

D. The masses become organized, overthrow the government, and replace capitalism with socialism

Marxist theorists would characterize white collar employees who distinguish themselves from common laborers and identify with the capitalist class as suffering from…

A. Cognitive dissonance

B. False class consciousness

C. The contradictions of capitalism

D. Wishful thinking

E. Repression of alienation

The first application of Marxist theory to crime was presented by…

A. Richard Quinney

B. William Chambliss

C. Karl Marx

D. William Bonger

The view that law reflects the prevailing values and interests of society as a whole is called…

A. Universalist theory

B. Conflict theory

C. Consensus theory

D. Normative theory

E. Organic theory

The view that power is concentrated in the hands of a small, power elite stands in sharp contrast to the view that power is distributed among multiple competing interests groups. The latter view is reflected in…

A. Pluralistic conflict models

B. Mutualist models

C. Consensus models

D. Equilibrium models

Acts that are viewed as morally wrong and that would be abhorred by society even if there was no law condemning them are what we mean by the term…

A. Mala prohibita offenses

B. Mala in se offenses

C. Mores

D. Folkways

E. Universal wrongs

Vold’s conflict theory views crime as…

A. Conforming behavior within the context of a subcultural group whose norms conflict with those of another group powerful enough to have its norms enacted into law

B. A product of demoralization among the great underclass of “truly disadvantaged”

C. A reflection of greed and selfishness fostered by capitalistic economic systems

D. A potential outcome of protest by members of groups that define current law(s) as unjust

E. Both A and D

Studies of the effect of race on criminal and juvenile justice system processing typically finds that when differences across race in offenses seriousness and prior record are controlled…

A. Racial discrimination emerges as a major factor contributing to minority overrepresentation in convicted and incarcerated populations

B. Race has a relatively weak effect on decision making in the criminal justice system

C. Race has no effect on decision making in the criminal justice system

D. Racial discrimination emerges as a factor contributing to male overrepresentation in convicted and incarcerated populations

Edwin Lemert expanded on Tannenbaum’s theory with two concepts, the most important of which was…

A. Criminal tendencies

B. Secondary deviance

C. Primary deviance

D. Criminal priorities

Moral crusaders have been described in lecture AS ALL BUT which of the following…

A. Those that believe that the creation of rules will help solve various problems

B. Bible thumpers

C. Do gooders

D. Having humanitarian interests

All of the following were listed among the “4 D’s” EXCEPT…

A. Diversion

B. Deinstitutionalization

C. Decriminalization

D. Destitution

According to John Braithwaite stigmatizing shaming is characterized BY ALL BUT which of the following…

A. Weakening the offenders’ attachments to conventional society

B. Labeling the offender

C. Diversion from the criminal justice system

D. Little or no effort to reintegrate the offender

Primary deviance is characterized as…

A. The first crime police encounter on a “call for service”

B. Undetected crime and deviance

C. The most serious crime detected at a particular event

D. Crime and deviance detected and responded to by people in authority

Durkhiem argued that _____ was a key factor leading to high rates of suicide…

A. Depression

B. Low self control

C. Anomie

D. Poverty

E. Economic inequality

Which one of Merton’s modes of adaptation would most likely lead to criminal behavior…

A. Conformity

B. Innovation

C. Retreatism

D. Ritualism

E. Rebellion

Which one of Merton’s modes of adaptation would be characterized with alcoholism and drug addiction…

A. Conformity

B. Innovation

C. Retreatism

D. Ritualism

E. Rebellion

According to Messner and Rosenfeld, which of the following has become the most important or overarching…

A. Polity

B. Economy

C. Family

D. Education

E. None of the above

According to Messner and Rosenfeld, The American Dream affects crime in two ways, the first is the decline in the effectiveness of important institutions. The second is that it breeds…

A. An anomic normative order

B. Criminal networks

C. Definitions favorable to crime

D. An intrusive government reacted to with violence and discontent

Describe the article “Institutional Anomie Theory and Cybercrime” by Deardon and colleagues (strain article)

Used a national sample of 215 self-admitted cybercriminals to examine Messner and Rosenfeld’s institutional anomie theory. Found that expressed levels of institutional anomie correlates with increased cybercrime. Findings reveal how the dark side of the American Dream and capitalism can lead to online crime.

Describe the article “School Punishment and Interpersonal Exclusion” by Jacobsen (labeling article)

Examined the association between suspension and discontinuity in same-grade friendship ties by focusing on rejection, withdrawal, and physical separation, tested the association between suspension and increased involvement with anti-social peers, and assessed whether these associations are stronger in smaller schools. Found that suspension associated with greater discontinuity in friendship ties and substance use.

Describe the article “Don’t Trust the Police” by Hanink and colleagues (conflict article)

Uses data collected from the NYPD to discuss the rise of “stop question frisk” and implementation of CompStat and explores whether the rate at which police use “stop question frisk” is based on crime rate or influenced by factors such as race or poverty. Found that crime rates are the strongest predictor of the rate stops within the precinct, Black and poor neighborhoods are a significant predictor of the rate of stops, and the use of “stop question frisk” explains the lower rates of police approval among Black New Yorkers.

What are Merton’s modes of adaptation?

Conformity, innovate, ritualist, retreat, and rebellion

What do Rosenfeld and Messner examine in their work “Crime and the American Dream?”

Why the U.S. has a high crime rate. Guns, drugs, and gangs are not the reason.

What are the primary institutions?

Economy, polity, education, and family (distinct but interrelated)

According to Messner and Rosenfeld, what institution dominates U.S. society.

Economy

According to Messner and Rosenfeld, what is the cause of high crime rates in the U.S.?

Social structures such as inequality, economic dominance, weak institutional control, meager institutions support

Mertons strain theory

Societal structure and anomie, society provides cultural guidelines, societal goals, societal means, modes of adaptations

Rosenfeld and Messner strain theory

Crime and the American Dream, drugs/gangs/guns are not reason for high crime rate, primary institutions, social inequality leads to crime

Cohens strain theory

Attempts to explain existence and content of delinquent subcultures and concentration of that subculture among the lower class, differential socialization and resources, measures lower class on a middle class scale, schools foster and reward middle class character/skills/manners

Cohens delinquent boys

Turns to a delinquent subculture: nonutilitarian/malicious/negativistic, “reaction formation” to frustration, delinquent subculture is a counterculture

Cloward and Ohlin strain theory

Focus on urban males in lower class neighborhoods, American Dream causes delinquency, emphasis on structure than culture, success ethic is part of the entire culture, blocked opportunity results, does not view all delinquency as a result of the subculture

Implications of strain theory

Mobilization for Youth Project provide legitimate opportunities for those who are blocked from success, war on poverty, not empirically validated

Robert Agnew strain theory

Other life stress/hassles/mistreatment leads to strain, failure to achieve positive goals, removal of positive stimuli, introduction of negative stimuli, strain is a result of negative social relations, not all strains lead to crime, individuals are pressured into crime

Why is labeling theory seen as somewhat “contrary” to positivist approaches?

Labeling theory wants to find the causes of becoming a criminal and ignores deviance

What does Howard Becker mean by “we create deviance…?”

Deviant behavior is that which people label deviance

Why is cultural relativism a useful approach to labeling theory?

Nothing is inherently evil, crime and deviance are social constructions

Describe Frank Tannenbaum’s thoughts on labeling theory

Labeling is the last step in creation of serious criminals, assumption that crime is ubiquitous and adults dont like it/create the rules, kids internalize adult labels, “dramatization of evil,” self fulfilling prophecy, delinquent kids are alienated from good kids and create delinquent subcultures

How did Edwin Lemert expand on Tannenbaum’s labeling theory?

Primary deviance - undetected deviance, impact of behavior is minimal

Secondary deviance - detected deviance, leads to stigma (label), reaction of parents/teachers/police, process of dramatization of evil, long process of punishments (most interested in)

In the 60s and 70s, labeling theorists moved away from “labeling as a cause of deviance” and focused more on…?

Nature and construction of rules, selective enforcement of rules, social functions of deviance

What are moral crusaders?

“Do gooders” who have humanitarian concerns, believe that the creation of rules will help solve various problems

Why are we critical of moral crusaders?

Dominated by powerful people whose vision of good and bad imposed on society, fail to see the consequences of “doing good,” people take advantage of new rules being enforced

What are the policy implications of labeling theory?

Decriminalization, diversion from the criminal justice system, due process, deinstitutionalization

Ruth Triplett (labeling theory)

Treatment of juveniles in 1990s, from the crime is evil to the child is evil (dramatization of evil)

John Braithwaite (labeling theory)

Theory of reintegrative shaming, all processes involved in expressing disapproval intended to invoke remorse in the person being condemned, reintegrative if followed by attempts to bring deviant back as part of the community, shaming that is stigmatizing

Larry Sherman (labeling theory)

Defiance theory, sanctions can have positive/neutral/negative impact on recidivism, tested on gang membership

What is the difference between conflict and consensus based theories?

Consensus - society is held together by agreement on major values

Conflict - view society composed of competing groups with different interests, values, and beliefs

What is the key concept of conflict theory?

Power determines the outcome of conflict, the powerful make the rules, general set of theories are law making/law breaking/law enforcement

George Vold (conflict theory)

Group conflict explains it all, based on fundamental conflicts between interest groups

Richard Quinney (conflict theory)

Criminal definitions (laws) describe behavior that conflicts with interests of those in power (formulation), criminal definitions are applied by those with power to shape administration of law (application), minorities are apprehended and punished

Thorsten Sellin (conflict theory)

Crime viewed as normal behavior of people caught up in cultural or group conflict, normative behavior that conflicts with another group’s view that have been codified in law

What is Marxist theory?

Explains both law and criminal justice, but rejects the notion of many competing groups and believes power is concentrated in the hand of a few (power elite)

What is the key concept of Marxist theory?

Two class structure, bourgeoisie or capitalists (owners of the means of production), proletariat (workers, masses), political power used by capitalists to promote interests of capitalists

What is the difference between instrumental and structural Marxists explanations of the law and social structure?

Instrumental - law is an instrument of the ruling class

Structural - political state has relative autonomy, not just an instrument of the ruling class, many laws run counter to the interests of ruling class, members of ruling class are subject to laws of the state

In the long run the ruling elite will win until revolution

William Bonger (Marxist theory)

Private ownership of the means of production produces egoistic tendencies, all classes affected, wealthy take advantage of the system, economic determinism (single factor), capitalist economy causes crime

Describe the types of crime listed by Richard Quinney

Crimes of accommodation - predatory, violent crimes (result of being brutalized by the system)

Crimes of resistance - nonrevolutionary unconscious acts against capitalism/exploitation, revolutionary conscious acts against the system

Crime of the ruling class - crimes of domination and repression

Describe David Greenberg’s “Marxist” explanation of juvenile crime

Juveniles disproportionately involved in crime and the criminal justice system, in all classes juveniles are deprived access to the labor market but they want the goods and adult status/freedom, employ deviant strategies to get them

Why are Akers and his colleagues critical of David Greenberg’s “Marxist” explanation of juvenile crime?

Relies heavily on non-Marxist variables (opportunity, social control, social learning), argues it isn’t much of a Marxist theory

What is Marxist about Steven Spitzer’s theory of deviance?

Contradictions in capitalist society that may produce criminal behavior, social junk are costly but harmless burden on society, social dynamite is “youth, alienated and politically volatile”

Elliot Currie (Marxist theory)

Crime in a Market Society, market society breeds violent crime by destroying livelihood, tendency toward inequality and material deprivation, market society weakens other forms of social support, market society promotes a culture of brutal individual competition and consumption over community