Module 7: Conflict Theories

Question 1

Conflict Perspective

Answer 1

Societies are more divided by conflict than they are integrated by consensus. Social norms and values codified into law are endorsed by the more dominant/powerful group.

Question 2

Conduct Norms

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Cultural Conflict (Sellin)

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Group Conflict Theory (Vold)

Answer 4

Attempt to explain criminal behaviour as resulting from a conflict between interests of divergent groups.

Question 5

Group Conflict (Quinney)

Answer 5

Social groupings that attempt to secure their interests through criminal law.

Question 6

Instrumental Marxism (Quinney)

Answer 6

The state and the legal system are instruments that can be directly manipulated by the capitalist class - therefore, the capitalist class can directly influence law and law formation.

Question 7

Structural Marxism (Althusser, Poulantzas)

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Relative Autonomy

Answer 8

The state has a certain amount of independence from the capitalist class and is able to enact laws that are not in the immediate interest of the capitalist class.

Question 9

Crimes of the Powerless (Spitzer)

Answer 9

Criminalization of behaviour is often directed at problem populations that arise in capitalist societies:
Surplus populations, those who disturb capitalism (student radicals).
Consider disturbing, hindering, or questioning capitalist modes of production as deviant.

Question 10

Crimes of the Powerless (Greenburg)

Answer 10

Juvenile Delinquency.
Juvenile's as a class are excluded from access to income and become surplus population which creates delinquency. Conflict between financing activities and lack of legitimate means.

Question 11

Crimes of the Powerful

Answer 11

Corporate crime causes more harm to society than “street crime.”

Question 12

Left Realism (Young, MacLean, DeKeseredy)

Answer 12

Crime really is a problem for the working-class and must be taken seriously. Most working-class crime in intra-class. A major methodological tool is the victimization surveys. Argues for a concrete crime control program; endorses crime control policies that are not repressive. 
Square of Crime.

Question 13

Mode of Production

Answer 13

Economic system whereby goods are produced, exchanged and distributed in society.
Forces, and social relations.

Question 14

Capitalist Social Relations

Answer 14

Proletariat-Bourgeousie
Unequal and exploitative.
Base to the super structure.

Question 15

Superstructure

Answer 15

Pyramid ontop of social relations.
Social institutions that reflect the base which favours the dominant class in a capitalist society.

Question 16

Critiques of Instrumental Marxism

Answer 16

Diversity in capitalist class.

Many laws go against capital interest (ex: minimum wage).