Special prosecutor in the case of Billy Doe's sexual victimization by a priest in the Catholic Church argued that the perpetrator in the case, Father Holy Roller, was not in himself the entire problem. Instead, the prosecutor argued that it was the opportunity structures of the Catholic
Church as a whole-its recruitment and selection of priests, supervision of priests, guidance by administrators, and the like. This is an example of which common explanation for organizational deviance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "Rotten barrel" theory suggests that the problem of deviance or misconduct is not just due to individual 'bad actors' (rotten apples) but is systemic, rooted in the structures and cultures of the organization itself. In this case, the prosecutor is arguing that the issue is with the systemic opportunity structures of the Catholic Church, not just the individual actions of Father Holy Roller.

Special Prosecutor in the Case of Billy Doe's Sexual Victimization