Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary consequence of educational failure for the poor according to strain theory?
What is the primary consequence of educational failure for the poor according to strain theory?
- Heightened social status among peers
- Increased likelihood of academic success
- Greater access to legitimate job opportunities
- Increased chances of engaging in deviant activities (correct)
Street crime is considered a common route to success for individuals from privileged backgrounds.
Street crime is considered a common route to success for individuals from privileged backgrounds.
False (B)
What is meant by 'illegitimate opportunity structures'?
What is meant by 'illegitimate opportunity structures'?
Alternatives to legitimate means of achieving success that often involve illegal activities.
Crime such as cheating medicare and embezzling falls under ______ crime.
Crime such as cheating medicare and embezzling falls under ______ crime.
Match the type of crime with its description.
Match the type of crime with its description.
Which factor often leads poor individuals to drop out of school?
Which factor often leads poor individuals to drop out of school?
Illegitimate opportunity structures provide advantages to individuals from all social classes equally.
Illegitimate opportunity structures provide advantages to individuals from all social classes equally.
Name two examples of activities that fall under street crime.
Name two examples of activities that fall under street crime.
What is the term used to describe a sense of normlessness when mainstream rules seem illegitimate?
What is the term used to describe a sense of normlessness when mainstream rules seem illegitimate?
Ritualism involves rejecting both cultural goals and the means to achieve them.
Ritualism involves rejecting both cultural goals and the means to achieve them.
What term describes individuals who accept society's goals but use illegitimate means to achieve them?
What term describes individuals who accept society's goals but use illegitimate means to achieve them?
Individuals who completely reject both the cultural goals and the institutionalized means are called ________.
Individuals who completely reject both the cultural goals and the institutionalized means are called ________.
Match each reaction to cultural goals with its description:
Match each reaction to cultural goals with its description:
Which of the following is a possible outcome for someone exhibiting ritualism?
Which of the following is a possible outcome for someone exhibiting ritualism?
Rebellion seeks to propose new societal goals and means.
Rebellion seeks to propose new societal goals and means.
What is the defining characteristic of deviant paths in relation to cultural goals?
What is the defining characteristic of deviant paths in relation to cultural goals?
What term do sociologists use to describe the alternative pathways to crime available due to changing gender roles?
What term do sociologists use to describe the alternative pathways to crime available due to changing gender roles?
According to conflict theorists, the law serves as a method for the powerful to maintain control over the working class.
According to conflict theorists, the law serves as a method for the powerful to maintain control over the working class.
Describe how the criminal justice system treats street crimes compared to corporate crimes.
Describe how the criminal justice system treats street crimes compared to corporate crimes.
The majority of prison inmates in the United States come from the ______ class.
The majority of prison inmates in the United States come from the ______ class.
Match the following groups with their respective treatment in the criminal justice system:
Match the following groups with their respective treatment in the criminal justice system:
What is one reason the power elite occasionally prosecutes wealthy individuals?
What is one reason the power elite occasionally prosecutes wealthy individuals?
The increasing prison population in the U.S. includes a significant percentage of individuals over 35 years old.
The increasing prison population in the U.S. includes a significant percentage of individuals over 35 years old.
What is the fundamental goal of the power elite according to conflict theorists?
What is the fundamental goal of the power elite according to conflict theorists?
Inconsistencies in the justice system often reflect the influence of the ______ class over the law.
Inconsistencies in the justice system often reflect the influence of the ______ class over the law.
Match the following legal outcomes with their typical offenders:
Match the following legal outcomes with their typical offenders:
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Study Notes
Strain Theory and Deviance
- Strain theory posits that societal pressure and mainstream values can lead to deviant behavior.
- Individuals experiencing strain are more inclined to choose nonconforming paths, often resulting from frustration or dissatisfaction.
Illegitimate Opportunity Structures
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Street Crime: The education system, dominated by middle-class values, marginalizes the poor, leading them to drop out.
- Educational failure limits legitimate financial success, pushing the poor toward crimes such as robbery, drug dealing, and prostitution.
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White-Collar Crime: More privileged classes engage in crimes reflective of their status, such as tax evasion and corporate fraud.
- For example, a company might exploit customer data without legal consequences, contrasting with severe penalties faced by lower-class offenders.
Responses to Strain
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Conformity: Acceptance of social norms to achieve goals, often leading to less desirable job choices if the ideal ones are unattainable.
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Deviant Paths: Four main deviancies are reactions to a gap between societal goals and means:
- Innovation: Embracing societal goals but employing illegitimate means, seen in activities such as drug dealing and embezzling.
- Ritualism: Accepting societal rules while abandoning the pursuit of success; exemplified by disillusioned teachers.
- Retreatism: Rejecting both the goals and means; can be seen in individuals abusing substances or, in more extreme cases, individuals entering religious life.
- Rebellion: Seeking to establish new societal norms and values, often as a reaction to perceived corruption in existing systems. This trend is increasingly seen among women as their roles evolve.
Conflict Perspective on Crime and Justice
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Legal systems exhibit disparities, illustrated by the leniency shown to corporate crimes versus harsh penalties enforced for street crimes.
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Law as Oppression: Conflict theorists view laws as tools for the powerful to maintain their privilege and manage social unrest.
- The legal system often targets the working class, as their actions are viewed as threats to established power.
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Corporate crime often goes unpunished, with offenders receiving fines rather than imprisonment, highlighting systematic inequity.
Political Power Dynamics
- Racial and ethnic minorities, along with the LGBTQ+ community, increasingly wield political influence.
Summary of Conflict Theory Insights
- Conflict theorists assert that the power elite manipulates the justice system to control the working class and stabilize their own power.
- Fear of rebellion from the poor prompts stringent legal penalties to preserve existing social structures and hierarchy.
Prison Population Trends
- There is a significant increase in the U.S. prison population, with 62% being younger than 35 and predominantly male, raising concerns about societal implications and systemic issues in handling deviance.
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