Chapter 11 - Conflict Theories

Question 1

Conduct Norms ¹¹

Answer 1

Specific rules or norms of appropriate behaviour generally agreed upon by members of the social group to whom the behavioural norms apply.

Question 2

Cultural Conflict Theory (Sellin) ¹¹

Answer 2

A theory that attempts to explain certain types of criminal behaviour as resulting from a conflict between the conduct norms of divergent cultural groups and/or the dominant cultural group.

Question 3

Group Conflict Theory (Vold, Quinney) ¹¹

Answer 3

A theory that attempts to explain certain types of criminal behaviour as resulting from a conflict between the interests of divergent groups.

Question 4

Instrumental Marxism (Quinney) ¹¹

Answer 4

The state is viewed as the direct instrument of the ruling or capitalist class. Instrumentalism is based on the notion that the processes of the superstructure are determine by the economic base.

Question 5

Structural Marxism (Althusser, Poulantzas) ¹¹

Answer 5

The state is viewed as acting in the long-term interests of capitalism as a whole rather than in the short-term interests of the capitalist class.

Question 6

Relative Autonomy ¹¹

Answer 6

A term used in the structural Marxist perspective to indicate that the state has a certain amount of independence from the capitalist class and is therefore able to enact laws that are not in the immediate interests of the capitalist class.

Question 7

Conflict Theories ¹¹

Answer 7

1. Cultural Conflict (Sellin); Crime occurs when individuals acting on the conduct norms of their own group are in violation of the conduct norms the dominant group has enacted into law.
2. Group Conflict (Vold, Quinney); Interest groups (Void) or social groups (Quinney) attempt to protect their own interests by influencing the creation and enforcement of the criminal law.
3. Instrumental Marxism (Quinney); The state and the legal system are instruments that can be directly manipulated by the capital class. The capitalist calss can thus dirrectly influecne law and law formation.
4. Structural Marxism (Althusser, Poulantzas); The relative autonomy of the state functions to preserve the long-term interests of the capitalist system. This helps explain why many laws are enacted that do not represent the immediate interests of the capitalist class.
5. Left Realism (Young, MacLean, DeKeseredy); Argues that crime really is a problem for the working class and must be taken seriously. Most working-class crime is intra-class. Major methodological tool is the victimization survey. Argues for a concrete crime control program; endorses crime control policies which are not repressive.

Question 8

Left Realism (Young, MacLean, DeKeseredy)

Answer 8

Most working class crime is intra-class. Major tool is the victimization survey. Argues for a concrete crime control program and endorses crime control policies which are not repressive.