CRIM 1650 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Squeegee Man

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VI. Sociological Theories II Structural and Conflict-Marxist Theories
A. Concepts
1. Legitimate Opportunity
3. Capitalist Mode of Production - refers to a system of economic organization that includes
private ownership, the production of goods and services based on markets through supply and
demand, the peruse of profit technological advancement and to increase efficiency and the
search for inexpressive inputs, and minimal number of regulations
1. Conflict occurs between two primary groups:
Capitalist who own the “means of production” – the things you need to produce
- bourgeois
Workers who are forced to sell their labour, they are paid less than their actual
value of their work to gain profit, also lower wages. (Creates class-based
inequality)
2. Strain
4. Surplus Labour
B. Themes
1. What is the main difference between a social process and a structural theory of crime?
2. What are the underlying principles of strain theory? What types of policy responses follow
from this theory of crime, and what are its relative strengths and weaknesses?
Strain theory (Merton, 1949)
Crime is a result of social pathology
High rates of crime in certain groups because they are responding normally to the social
situations that they find themselves in
Underlying Principles
1. The structure of society affects the way that people behave
2. The structure of U.S. society impacts behaviour in two distinct ways: culturally define
goals and distribution of opportunities to achieve these goals
3. Cultural goals are universal: the pursuit of material success based on the American
Dream” (pursuit of wealth and success)
4. Approved means of obtaining those goals are socially stratified and thus not available to
everyone (like university, education to achieve these goals)
5. Disjuncture between cultural goals and legitimate means of obtaining those goals
creates strain
6. Criminal behaviour is an adaptation to strain
Policy implications
1. Modify cultural goals attempt to challenge the idea that being successful finically is the
goal in life. Do that by suggesting, innovating different ideals (spiritual, anti-consumer
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CRIM 1650 Full Course Notes
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