STRUCTURAL MARXIST INSTRUMENTAL RADICAL Sociologists who view crime & deviance as a result of social conflict and economic rivalry are aligned with 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: 4The relationship of personal or group power in controlling and defining deviance 4Power and Control:Deviance as a Political Process 4Focus: Creation and Enforcement of Law 4The relationship of personal or group power in controlling and defining deviance 4Power and Control:Deviance as a Political Process 4Focus: Creation and Enforcement of Law

Marxist View of Class Workers(Proletariat) Owners of Production(CapitalistBourgeoisie) The Non-Productive (Lumpen Proletariat) PROFITSWAGESPROFITSWAGES

Willem Bonger ( ) 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 RichardQuinney,1970 Law and defining deviance is a tool for the Ruling Class -Control is through a variety of institutions run by and for the Elite -Typical focus of the Sociology of Deviance is focused on the lower class

Conflict Theory- Overview MAJOR PREMISE Deviance is a function of class conflict. The definition of what is deviant is controlled by people who hold social and political power. STRENGTHS Accounts for class differentials in categorizing those who are “deviant”. Shows how class conflict influences behavior.

Explains the existence of white-collar crime and business control laws.. STRENGTHS The law is designed to sustain the capitalist economic system MAJOR PREMISE Structural Conflict Theory

Instrumental Conflict Theory MAJORPREMISE Criminals are revolutionaries. The real crime sexism, racism is sexism, racism, andprofiteering. STRENGTHS Broadens the definition of deviancy and demystifies or explains the historical development of law.

Marxist Theory STRENGTHS Accounts for the associations between economic structure and crime rates. MAJOR PREMISE The capitalist means of production creates class conflict. Crime is a rebellion of the lower class. The criminal justice system is an agent of class warfare.

Radical Feminist Theory MAJOR PREMISE The capital system creates patriarchy, which oppresses women. STRENGTHS Explains gender bias, violence against women, and repression.

Social Conflict Theories: Critique by Goode -Not all conflict represents social or economic class -Crime continues to exist is socialist countries -Arrest and punishment happens in both capitalist 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:

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.