Exam #2 Flashcards
Social classes
Group of population whose members are at similar economic status
- Share attitudes, values, norms
Culture of poverty
Separate lower-class culture, characterized by apathy (laziness), cynicism (distrust) in social institutions
Lower class
Lowest social stratum; members lack education/skills needed to succeed in modern society
What do social structure theorists believe in?
They believe that disadvantaged economic class position is primary cause of crime
What theory does “slow epidemic” and linking material possessions to self worth?
Social structure theory
View of social structure theories?
View cause of crime thru lens of poverty, income equality, social/economic struggles
Social structure’s 3 branches?
1) Social Disorganized Theory
2) Strain Theory
3) Cultural Deviance Theory
Social Disorganized Theory?
Focuses on breakdown of inner-city neighborhoods of institutions (ex: family, school employment)
Strain Theory and Goals
Sees crime as a function of conflict between people’s goals and the means available to obtain them
Cultural Deviance Theory
Sees strain and social disorganization together, resulting in unique lower-class culture that conflicts w/ social norms
What theory does “subculture” belong to?
Definition?
- Cultural Deviance Theory
- Set of values, beliefs, traditions unique to particular social class/group within larger society
Strain theories
View that crime is direct result of frustration/anger among the lower class socioeconomic classes
General strain theory (GST)
Views multiple sources of strain interact w/ an individual’s emotional traits to produce criminality
Negative Affective States
Anger, frustration, and adverse emotions produced by variety of sources of strain
Economic crime
Committed for purpose of monetary gain and financial benefits
Blue-collar crime
Traditional common law theft crimes such as larceny, burglary, arson
Types of White-collar crimes?
Embezzlement, fraud, bribery
Green-collar crimes
Crimes that effect the environment
Theft
Taking another person’s property w/out their permission or consent
3 Types of Property Criminals
1) skilled thieves
2) smugglers
3) peachers
Skilled thieves -
Work in larger cities, assembled “flash houses”, public meeting places, where deals made, crimes plotted
Smugglers
Move freely into populated areas; transport goods
Poachers
Live in country and supplemented their diet/income w/ game that belonged to landlord
Stratified society
People grouped together regarding to economic/social class; characterized by unequal distribution of wealth, power
Situational inducement
Short-term influence on a person’s behavior
-Ex: peer pressure, financial problems
Larceny
Or theft, taking ones own use the property of another, by means other than force/threats on victim or by forcible breaking into
Constructive Possession
Situations in which people voluntarily give up physical custody of property but still retain legal ownership
-Ex: if lady gives her watch to jeweler for repair, then he sells it
Snitches
Amateur shoplifter who doesn’t identify as thief, thoroughly steals merchandise for personal use
*If caught usually don’t risk 2nd offense
Booster (heel)
Professional shoplifter who steals w/ intention if reselling merchandise
Merchant privilege laws
Legislation protects retailers and employees from lawsuits if they arrest/detain a suspected shoplifter on reasonable grounds
Reasons why amateurs steal vehicles? (5)
- Joyriding
- Short-term transportation
- Long-term transportation
- Profit
- Commission of Another crime
Naïve check forgers
Amateurs who cash bad checks because financial crisis, little identification w/ criminal law
Systematic forgers
Professionals who make living off passing bad checks
Fence
Earns their living by stealing/selling stolen merchandise
Burglary
Entering a home by force, threat, deception w/ intent to commit crime
When is burglary most common?
- 6am - 6pm, when people not home
4 requirements for “good burglar”
1) Master skills to commit productive burglaries
2) Able to form criminal gang; complete tasks
3) Have inside info;knowledge of what awaits inside
4) Must foster fences/buyers for stolen goods
White-collar crime
Any business related act that uses deceit, to carry out criminal enterprise
Chiseling
To use one’s business position to cheat an organization, consumer, on regular basis
-Ex: pharmacist using cheap pills & charging for expensive ones
Inside trading
Illegal buying of stock based on info provided by someone who has fixed interest in a company
Exploitation
Forcing victims to pay for services/contracts to which they have clear right
-Ex: fire inspector threatens owner w/ violation unless given money
Influence peddling
Using ones institutional position the grant favors/sell info to which ones co-conspirators are not entitled
Payola
Record companies bribing radio stains to play their songs w/out making listeners aware
Foreign corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
Made bribe a criminal offense
Embezzlement
Type of larceny which someone who’s trusted w/ property fraudulently (falsely), keeps it for own use or others
Corporate (organizational) crime
Institutions/representatives intentionally violate laws that restrain these institutions from doing social harm
Compliance strategies
Methods of controlling white collar crimes; creating marketplace solution to obey law
-Ex: Food and Drug Administration regulates drugs, cosmetics, etc
Deterrence strategies
Methods of controlling white collar crime, rely on punishment of individual
Definition of Strain
Anger, frustration, & resentment experienced by people who can’t achieve their goals
5 Inadequate means of attaining success
1) Conformity
2) Innovation
3) Ritualism
4) Retreatism
5) Rebellion
Anomie Theory
View when goals (wealth/power) are universally desired but access by limited means
Institutional Anomie Theory
View that anomie dominates US culture because drive for material wealth dominates social/community values
Relative Deprivation
Envy, mistrust, aggression resulting from perceptions of economic/social inequality
Focal Concerns
Values such as toughness and street smarts, to fit conditions in lower class environment
Cultural Transmissions
Values, beliefs, traditions passed down from one generation to the next
Delinquent Subculture
Value system adopted by lower-class youth that directly opposes that of larger society
Reaction formation
Hostility by young delinquents, who adopt norms opposed to middle class goals
Differential Opportunity
View that lower-class youth, have limited opportunities, and join gangs
3 Types of Gangs -
1) Criminal gangs - criminal careers
2) Conflict gangs - integrity and honor of gang
3) Retreatist gang - double failures, look for ways to get high
