Studies by Messner and Rosenfeld suggest that the strain toward deviance, particularly crime, is
A) stronger when the economy is a relatively weak institution in the society.
B) stronger when the economy is the dominant institution in the society.
C) not related to the position of the economy in the society.
D) weaker when penal institutions dominate the society.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Messner and Rosenfeld's theory, known as Institutional Anomie Theory, posits that crime is more likely to occur in societies where the economy dominates other institutions, such as education, family, and politics. This dominance leads to devaluation of non-economic roles and norms, increasing the strain towards deviance and crime.

Studies by Messner and Rosenfeld Suggest That the Strain Toward