Question 1

According to Sellin's cultural conflict theory,criminal norms refer to the norms that predominate among criminal offenders

Accepted Answer

Sellin's cultural conflict theory posits that criminal behavior can arise from the clash of differing cultural norms and values, rather than referring specifically to norms that predominate among criminal offenders.

Question 2

Quinney's group conflict theory argues that all social groups have the power to influence policy.

Accepted Answer

Quinney's group conflict theory suggests that social groups have differing amounts of power, and it is primarily the powerful, ruling classes that have the ability to influence policy significantly.

Question 3

According to Quinney's group conflict theory the powerful dominate the formulation of law but not the administration of law.

Accepted Answer

Quinney's group conflict theory suggests that the powerful not only dominate the formulation of law but also its administration, ensuring that laws serve their interests and maintain their dominance.

Question 4

Marx himself did not develop a theory of crime.

Accepted Answer

While Marx did discuss the relationship between crime and capitalism in his writings, he did not develop a comprehensive theory of crime. Other criminologists, such as Emile Durkheim and Cesare Lombroso, are credited with developing more robust theories of crime.

Question 5

Vold's group conflict theory is interested in the process of law creation as it relates to the activities of antagonistic interest groups in the broader community.

Accepted Answer

Vold's group conflict theory is focused on the creation of laws and how it is influenced by the actions of opposing interest groups in society.

Question 6

Conduct norms represent the agreed upon behaviours within cultural groups.

Accepted Answer

Conduct norms are the socially accepted rules and behaviors within a cultural group that dictate appropriate and expected behavior.

Question 7

Instrumental Marxists contend that the state has relative independence from the capitalist class and is therefore able to enact laws that are not in the immediate interests of the capitalist class.

Accepted Answer

Instrumental Marxists argue that the state and its institutions function primarily to serve the interests of the capitalist class, implying that the state does not have relative independence but is instead a tool for capitalist interests.

Question 8

For left realists,"square of crime" refers to the intersection of offenders,the capitalist class,the state,and criminal law.

Accepted Answer

For left realists, the "square of crime" refers to the interaction between offenders, victims, the state (including the police and criminal justice system), and the wider community or society, not specifically the capitalist class and criminal law.

Question 9

According to Greenberg,juveniles move toward delinquency because they are excluded from lawful sources of income.

Accepted Answer

Greenberg's social disorganization theory states that delinquency in juveniles is caused by their exclusion from lawful means of achieving financial success or meeting their needs. This can lead them to engage in criminal behavior in order to acquire the goods and resources they desire.

Question 10

Vold's group conflict theory pays particular attention to violence that occurs between competing criminal groups and gangs.

Accepted Answer

Vold's group conflict theory focuses on the conflicts between different interest groups and the law, not specifically on violence between criminal groups and gangs.

Question 11

Marxist criminologists view conflict as rooted in the structure of capitalist society (capitalist economic relations).

Accepted Answer

Marxist criminologists see conflict between social classes as a fundamental aspect of capitalist society, with the capitalist class dominating the working class and using the criminal justice system to maintain their power and control over resources.

Question 12

Left realists emphasize alternatives to the criminal justice system in controlling crime.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Left realists argue that the criminal justice system alone cannot effectively control crime and that alternative methods, such as community-based solutions, must be employed as well.

Question 13

Structural Marxists take a more general approach to the role of institutions in controlling capitalism than instrumental Marxists.

Accepted Answer

Structural Marxists argue that institutions (such as the state, legal system, and education system) are inherently structured to maintain and reproduce capitalist relations, whereas instrumental Marxists focus on how specific institutions (such as trade unions) can be used as tools to challenge or reform capitalism.

Question 14

According to Sellin,how a crime is defined is very much influenced by the character and interests of those groups in society that have the most power.

Accepted Answer

Sellin's theory of cultural conflict suggests that the definition of crime is shaped by the dominant group in society, and is therefore subject to change over time as power dynamics shift. This means that what is considered criminal behavior may not always be based on objective or universally agreed-upon criteria, but may instead reflect the values and interests of those in positions of authority.

Question 15

Marxist research on corporate crime focuses on those who are outside the sphere of production.

Accepted Answer

Marxist research on corporate crime focuses on those who are within the sphere of production, namely the capitalist class who seek to maximize their profits by breaking laws and regulations related to labor, the environment, and consumer safety.

Question 16

According to Vold's group conflict theory,violence that erupts during a strike by a trade union is an example of crimes that occur when there is a conflict between the behaviour of a minority group and the laws of the dominant majority.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Vold's group conflict theory,violence that...

Question 17

Marxist theories tend to focus on better understanding the individual pathologies of criminal offenders.

Accepted Answer

Marxist theories actually focus on examining the social and economic structures that lead to crime, rather than the personal characteristics of individual offenders.

Question 18

One of the critiques of Instrumental Marxist perspectives on crime is that it ignores laws that are contradictory to the position of the powerful capitalist class.

Accepted Answer

Instrumental Marxist perspectives on crime focus on laws that serve the interests of capitalism and the ruling class. However, they do not take into account laws that may contradict capitalist interests, such as regulations on environmental pollution or worker safety. Therefore, this is a valid critique of Instrumental Marxist perspectives on crime.

Question 19

Left idealism views Marxist views of crime as holistic and all-encompassing.

Accepted Answer

Left idealism often criticizes Marxist views for being too focused on economic factors and not fully addressing other dimensions of power and inequality, such as race, gender, and ethnicity.

Question 20

Spitzer argued that the criminalization of much behaviour is directed toward those problem populations who are surplus to the labour market.

Accepted Answer

Spitzer's argument is that the criminalization of certain behaviors is a way for society to control and punish those who are deemed surplus to the labor market, such as the unemployed or those in low-wage jobs. This is done through the creation of legal categories and penalties for behaviors that are associated with these populations, such as drug use, prostitution, and vagrancy.

Quiz 11: Conflict Theories