bonger

What does Bonger say about capitalism?

• capitalism is criminogenic

• (produces the conditions in which crime is likely to occur)

What are the 5 things capitalism produces according to Bonger?

• Poverty, inequality and alienation

• Egoism

• Anomie (cause of it)

• (all) Social classes commit crime

• Selfish - humans aren’t naturally selfish

How does capitalism cause poverty, inequality and alienation?

• Forced to sell their labour while the ruling class accumulates wealth

• Structural inequality and relative deprivation push them into utilitarian crimes 4 survival or frustration

How does capitalism produce egoism?

• Private ownership of the means of production and pursuit of profit make society competitive

• Gordon = dog eat dog society

How does capitalism produce anomie?

• Erodes collective morality and weakens bonds of social cohesion

• Moral breakdown increases anomie (normlessness)

What did Bonger say about social classes committing crime?

• All social classes commit crime

• Capitalism produces different forms of criminality

• Survival crime = poor , power crime = rich

What did Bonger say about crime and selfishness?

• Not naturally selfish

• Crime is not innate to human nature but a product of social conditions