white collar crime

What is the main focus of Sutherland’s offender-based definition of white collar crime?

 Crimes committed by individuals of high social status and respectability in the course of their occupation.

 Why is Sutherland’s definition controversial?

It focuses on the status of the offender rather than the nature of the offense, making it difficult to apply consistently and excluding some corporate crimes.

How did Edelhertz define white collar crime?

As business crime—illegal acts committed through business activities for personal or organizational gain.

How did Shapiro define white collar crime?

As abuse of trust—crimes that exploit positions of authority or responsibility.

What is the difference between mala in se and mala prohibita crimes?

Mala in se = inherently evil acts (e.g., murder).
Mala prohibita = crimes because the law prohibits them (e.g., insider trading).

How do different definitions affect samples of white collar offenders?

 Offender-based definitions capture higher-status individuals, while offense-based definitions include a broader range of behaviors and offenders.

According to the Yale study, what are typical characteristics of white collar offenders?

Predominantly white, male, middle-aged, well-educated, and employed in stable occupations.

What did the Forst and Rhodes study find about white collar offenders?

Similar demographics to the Yale study but noted some diversity and variation in offense type and motivation.

What are the limitations of these studies?

Small samples, biased toward detected and prosecuted cases, and not fully representative of all white collar offenders.

 How do white collar offenders deviate from the typical age-crime curve?

They often commit crimes later in life and maintain steady employment, unlike street offenders who peak in adolescence.

How have white collar offenders’ backgrounds changed over time?

As the middle class diversified, so did offender demographics—more women and minority professionals now appear in cases.

How have traditional criminological theories been adapted for white collar crime?

Theories like strain, learning, and control have been modified to explain motivations in professional and organizational settings.

What are integrated theories?

Theories that combine individual, organizational, and societal factors to explain white collar crime.

Are corporations considered offenders under the law?

Yes—corporations can be held criminally liable for the actions of employees acting within their scope of employment.

What factors influence the likelihood of organizational offending?

Corporate culture, weak internal controls, pressure for profits, and lack of accountability.

What is common about white collar offenders’ sense of identity?

They often see themselves as “good people” and justify their crimes as exceptions or mistakes.

What are the original techniques of neutralization?

Denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of condemners, and appeal to higher loyalties.

How do neutralizations help white collar offenders maintain their self-image?

They allow offenders to justify actions and minimize guilt while maintaining a respectable self-concept.

How do white collar offenders differ from street offenders in their neutralizations?

White collar offenders use more rationalizations tied to business norms and moral justifications rather than outright denial of crime.

What role does psychopathy play in white collar and corporate crime?

Some offenders show traits of corporate psychopathy—lack of empathy, manipulativeness, and charm—linked to unethical decision-making.

What did Harbinson and Benson’s study find about gender and criminal thinking?

Men displayed higher levels of criminal rationalization; women often cited situational pressures or relational factors.

What are limitations of trait or psychological explanations for white collar crime?

They ignore social, cultural, and organizational influences on behavior.

What are the two types of “accounts” offenders may use?

Excuses (deny responsibility) and justifications (accept responsibility but deny wrongdoing).

How do accounts differ from neutralizations?

Accounts are used after the act to explain it, while neutralizations occur before or during the act to justify it.

How can organizational structure and culture influence individual cognition?

They shape what employees see as acceptable or normal, influencing moral decision-making.

What is concerted ignorance?

A collective decision to remain uninformed about unethical or risky practices.

What is normalized deviance?

When rule-breaking becomes routine and accepted within an organization over time.

How are concerted ignorance and normalized deviance related to the Challenger disaster?

NASA officials ignored warning signs due to cultural and structural pressures, leading to normalization of unsafe practices.

What is structural secrecy?

Barriers within an organization (hierarchies, communication silos) that hide information and encourage deviance.

What are ways people morally disengage from wrongdoing?

Dehumanization, displacement of responsibility, minimizing harm, moral justification, and blaming victims.

How do offender typologies in Fool Me Once connect to class discussions?

They illustrate traits like greed, entitlement, and rationalization tied to psychological and organizational theories.

How can trait-based, organization-based, and societal-based theories apply to the Rita Crundwell case?

• Trait-based: Personal greed, rationalization, and narcissism.
  
  

• Organization-based: Lack of oversight and internal controls.
  
  

• Societal-based: Community trust and limited scrutiny of authority.