Deck 9: Marxist and Conflict Theories of Deviance

Question 1

______ theorists would advocate for a revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system as the only way to solve power differentials and conflict.

A) Conflict
B) Anomie
C) Marxist
D) Strain

Answer 1

C

Question 2

______ focus on the political economy and the capitalist system in their analyses of power and conflict, whereas ______ theorists have traditionally expanded their definitions of power beyond a singular focus on the capitalist system.

A) Marxist theories; conflict
B) Conflict theories; Marxist
C) Power-Control theories; Marxist
D) Dialectical materialism; conflict

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What type of economic system are Marxist and conflict theories primarily critical of?

A) socialist
B) communist
C) fascist
D) capitalist

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Much of the focus of both Marxist and conflict theories is on the creation and maintenance of ______ that benefit one group over another.

A) norms
B) religions
C) laws
D) relationships

Question 5

Which Marxist theorist wrote The Communist Manifesto?

A) Spitzer
B) Chambliss
C) Marx
D) Turk

Question 6

What does Steven Spitzer call unneeded laborers in his work?

A) social dynamite
B) social junk
C) unemployed
D) bourgeoisie

Question 7

According to Karl Marx, in a capitalist society, economic power belongs to the ______.

A) bourgeoisie
B) proletariat
C) educated
D) military

Question 8

Vold, a conflict theorist, studied the process by which individuals become a part of a group, ______, and how conflict arises when groups are threatened by competing interests of other groups.

A) what causes groups to grow
B) how people decide which groups to join
C) the dissolution of relationships within groups
D) the development of relationships within and among groups

Question 9

______ functions of the law tell individuals what actions they can and cannot perform.

A) Instrumental
B) Symbolic
C) Consensus
D) Relativist

Question 10

Alexandra is a well-educated woman who sees many issues with the capitalist society she lives in. She openly criticizes the system. What would Steven Spitzer call Alexandra?

A) social dynamite
B) social junk
C) proletariat
D) bourgeoisie

Question 11

According to Karl Marx, in a capitalist society, the ______ live in poverty and misery.

A) proletariat
B) bourgeoisie
C) elderly
D) military

Question 12

The ______ function of law does not rely on enforcement or action. Instead, it "invites consideration" of what is considered moral by a society.

A) instrumental
B) symbolic
C) pluralistic
D) constructionist

Question 13

Vold, in studying the ______ involved in the creation of marijuana laws, would suggest that state laws regarding the use of marijuana represent a compromise between those who wish to outlaw marijuana completely and those who wish to grow, sell, and consume marijuana at will.

A) bourgeoisie accommodation
B) Marxist interests
C) instrumental functions
D) group dynamics

Question 14

Vold argues that when conflicts between groups arise and groups are threatened by the competing interests of other groups, individuals ______.

A) escalate those conflicts
B) rally behind the stronger group
C) decrease loyalty to their group
D) lose interest in the weaker group

Question 15

A local city government heard a variety of complaints about the homeless camping out in public spaces. They decided to pass a law to make it illegal to camp in public areas without a permit, and they refused to grant permits to those who could not provide a mailing address. This illustrates Vold's idea that laws are a/an ______.

A) means of creating dialectical materialism
B) tool that powerful groups use to maintain their interests
C) way to use the proletariat to punish the bourgeoisie
D) avenue to overthrow existing power relationships

Question 16

When those living in poverty vote for politicians who promise to take funding away from programs that benefit the poor, it is an example of ______ consciousness because it means that those living in poverty are identifying with a class that opposes their interest.

A) false
B) double
C) Marxian
D) class

Question 17

According to Marx, the ruling class promote various forms of discrimination to ______.

A) create illegitimate authority
B) distract the intellectuals
C) centralize their authority
D) keep the workforce divided

Question 18

According to Marx, the power of capitalists is based on their ability to control both the means of production and ______.

A) the bourgeoisie
B) communication
C) the educated
D) capital

Question 19

The ______ is created by the formulation and application of criminal definitions, the development of behavior patterns related to criminal definitions, and the construction of criminal conceptions?

A) Marxist conception of law
B) social construction of justice
C) social reality of crime
D) criminal group dynamic

Question 20

Gerrymandering is an example of how parties in power manipulate the districts in ways that guarantee disproportionate outcomes.

Question 21

Marxist theory clearly specifies how laborers will lose their false consciousness.

Question 22

Marxist theorists suggest capitalism can be used to reduce deviant behavior and group conflict.

Question 23

According to Marxist theories, the law is the tool for powerless groups to ensure interests and services of need are met.

Question 24

The term "dialectic" in the phrase "dialectical materialism" refers to negotiating contradictions.

Question 25

William Bonger built upon Marxist ideas and explicitly related them to the topic of crime in his book Criminality and Economic Conditions.

Question 26

In his article "Toward a Political Economy of Crime," William Chambliss (1975) argues that the only question that matters is, "Why do some individuals become involved with criminal behavior, while others do not?"

Question 27

A Marxian paradigm of crime and criminal law suggest that members of the ruling class will be able to violate the laws with impunity while members of the subject classes will be punished

Question 28

A criticism of conflict and Marxist theorists is that they claim class conflict cannot explain individual acts of deviance.

Question 29

Conflict theories play a key role in allowing us to question how deviance is defined and used to maintain positions of power in society.

Question 30

Using examples, briefly describe the role played in dialectical materialism by thesis, antithesis, and synthesis of an idea.

Question 31

List the assumptions of Marxist and conflict theories. Provide questions this type of research might ask.

Question 32

Compare and contrast Marxist and conflict theories.

Question 33

Discuss common criticisms of Marxist and conflict theories.