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Critical Theories of Crime & Societal Violence: Radical Perspective by Currie & Colvin, Slides of Criminology

An in-depth analysis of critical theories of crime and societal violence from the perspectives of elliott currie and colvin. The authors critique instrumental marxist criminology and discuss the concept of 'market society' and its connection to violence. They propose solutions to reduce violence, including full employment and integrating individuals into a larger social purpose.

Typology: Slides

2012/2013

Uploaded on 01/27/2013

dhritiman
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Critical Theories II
Finish Radical/Marxist
Currie (Market Society)
Colvin (Coercion)
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Critical Theories II

Finish Radical/Marxist

Currie (Market Society)

Colvin (Coercion)

Criticisms of Instrumental Marxist

Criminology

  • An “underdog theory” with little basis in fact
  • Are “socialist societies” any different?
  • Some capitalist countries have low crime rates
  • Most crime is poor against poor—Marxists ignore the

plight of the poor.

Currie Basics

• U.S. distinctive in our violent crime rates

• U.S. also distinctive as a “Market Society”

  • “Mean” capitalism (sink or swim)
  • As compared to “corporate paternalism”
    • Japan (but see, SAS in the United States)
    • “Top Down”
  • Or “compassionate capitalism”
    • Many European countries
    • Strong union (bottom up)

The Seven Reasons that the Market Society

Produces Violence

1. By “destroying livelihood”

2. By Inherent tendency towards extremes of

inequality and material deprivation

3. By weakening other types of public support

4. By eroding informal support networks

So, what is the solution?

• Changing Employment

  • Full employment at socially meaningful work at

good wages with reasonable hours

  • Integrate individuals into a larger social purpose
  • Stabilizing local communities
  • Reduce the kinds of family stress that put kids at risk for abuse/neglect
  • How?
  • Public and nonprofit sectors
  • Work sharing/reduction of work time

Colvin

• Coercion

  • Combination of Traditional “Control” theory with

his notion of “Coercion”

  • Types of control
    • Coercive (punitive, demeaning, etc.)
    • Non-coercive (remunerative, normative)
  • Use of control
    • Consistent or Erratic

Colvin – Type II

  • Erratic, Non-coercive
    • Lenient, lax
      • Disinterested controller, use inconsistent remunerative control to manipulate subject (bribe when it suits the controller)
      • Often ignore subjects bad behavior
    • Psychosocial outcomes
      • High self-efficacy, low anger, no coercive modeling
      • Low self-control, “calculative social bond”
    • Behavioral outcomes
      • Explore deviant behaviors, manipulate authority figures, lying, minor street crime, white collar crime

Colvin – Type III

  • Consistent, Coercive
    • Highly punitive relationship between controller and subordinate - Weak social support (threaten to remove)
  • Psychosocial
    • High self-directed anger, rigid control (based on fear), external locus of control, low self-efficacy, weak calculative social bond, strong modeling for coercion
  • Behavioral
    • Low odds of both criminal and pro-social behavior
    • Higher odds of mental illness
    • “Over-controlled” crimes (explosion of violence)

How is this a “critical” theory??

  • Coercion used BEYOND parenting—some individuals

more apt to see coercion from a variety of sources:

  • Policing in certain neighborhoods (Sherman)
  • Workplaces (esp. shitty jobs)
  • State bureaucracies
  • In U.S., both interpersonal and impersonal coercion

are tied to INEQUALITY

  • Inner city kids  coercion in school, peer groups, families, jobs…
  • Policy prescription = supportive social and CJS policies