STRUCTURALSTRUCTURAL

MARXISTMARXIST

INSTRUMENTALINSTRUMENTAL

RADICALRADICAL

Sociologistswho view crime &

deviance as a result of social

conflict and economicrivalry are alignedwith a number of

schools of thought, referred to as:

Schools of Thought in the Conflict Perspective

The goal of social conflict theorists is to explain deviance within economic and social contexts and to express the connections among social class, deviance and social control. Issues of concern to them include:

The relationship of personal or group power in controlling and defining deviance

Power and Control:Deviance as a Political Process

Focus: Creation and Enforcement of Law

The relationship of personal or group power in controlling and defining deviance

Power and Control:Deviance as a Political Process

Focus: Creation and Enforcement of Law

Marxist View of Class

WorkersWorkers(Proletariat)(Proletariat)Owners ofOwners of

ProductionProduction(Capitalist(Capitalist

Bourgeoisie)Bourgeoisie)

The Non-ProductiveThe Non-Productive(Lumpen Proletariat)(Lumpen Proletariat)

PROFITSPROFITS

WAGESWAGES

PROFITSPROFITS

WAGESWAGES

Willem Bonger (1876-1940)

If wealth is unequally distributed and people believe wealth means superiority, then the inferior will be more deviant attempting to attain the wealth

• The economic system will intensify personal disadvantages and will increase propensity for deviance

The Social Reality of Deviance and Crime

RichardRichard

Quinney,Quinney,

19701970

Law and defining deviance is a Law and defining deviance is a tool for the Ruling Classtool for the Ruling Class

-Control is through a variety of Control is through a variety of institutions run by and for the institutions run by and for the EliteElite

-Typical focus of the Sociology Typical focus of the Sociology of Deviance is focused on the of Deviance is focused on the lower classlower class

Conflict Theory- Overview

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISEDeviance is a function of class conflict. The definition of what is deviant is controlled by people who hold social and political

power.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHSAccounts for class differentials in

categorizing those who are “deviant”. Shows how class conflict influences

behavior.

Explains the existence ofwhite-collar crime and business

control laws..

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

The law is designed tosustain the capitalist

economic system

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISE

Structural Conflict TheoryStructural Conflict Theory

Instrumental Conflict TheoryInstrumental Conflict Theory

MAJORMAJORPREMISEPREMISE

Criminals are revolutionaries.The real crime

is sexism,sexism, racismracism, and

profiteering.profiteering.

STRENGTHSBroadens the

definition of deviancyand demystifies or explains the

historical development oflaw.

Marxist Theory

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Accounts for the associations between economic structure and crime rates.

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISE

The capitalist means of production creates The capitalist means of production creates class conflict. Crime is a rebellion of the class conflict. Crime is a rebellion of the

lower class. The criminal justice system is lower class. The criminal justice system is an agent of class warfare.an agent of class warfare.

Radical Feminist TheoryRadical Feminist Theory

MAJOR PREMISEMAJOR PREMISEThe capital system

creates patriarchy, whichoppresses women.

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

Explains gender bias,Explains gender bias,

violence against women,violence against women,

and repression.and repression.

Social Conflict Theories:Critique by Goode

Social Conflict Theories:Critique by Goode

-Not all conflict represents social or -Not all conflict represents social or economic classeconomic class

-Crime continues to exist is socialist -Crime continues to exist is socialist countriescountries

-Arrest and punishment happens in both -Arrest and punishment happens in both capitalist and socialist countriescapitalist and socialist countries

The key question in the social control theory is not why people commit crime and delinquency, but rather why don’t they? Why don’t people conform?

Social Control Theory 2

The most detailed elaboration of modern social control theory is attributed to Travis Hirschi who wrote the 1969 book, Causes of Delinquency.

Causes of Low Self-Control

• We are all born without self-control– Self Control is established in early childhood

– Causes must be in early childhood

• There is a lack of adherence to social norms• Biology? NOT according to Hirschi

Basic Premise of Social Bond Theory

Hirschi argued that deviancy will occur if individuals are not properly socialized into establishing a strong bond to society.

There are 4 elements that form the social bond consisting of:

Elem ents of the Socia l Bond

Attachm entEm otiona l A ttachm ent to

s ign ificant o thers

C om m itm entE fforts and Ene rgies

expended tow a rd conventional goals

Involvem en tKeeping busy a t

conven tional activ ities

Belie fC ognitive affirm ation o f

conventional va lues

D EVIAN CE

Social Bond Theory Updated

More recently, Hirschi wrote with Michael Gottfredson that the principal cause of deviant behaviors is ineffective child rearing, which produces people with low self-control.