Cases and Theories of Criminality Introduction

The first scenario involves a case in which a Wall Street broker possessed of an advanced degree from Harvard, who engages in insider trading practices and earns a million dollars over the course of five years. From the perspective of conflict theory, it could be argued that this trader is behaving in a prototypically capitalist manner, with crime as connected to the inequities found in the capitalist system (Siegel, 2000). From the Marxist perspective and that of other conflict theorists as well, capitalism is perceived as rendering both the proletariat and the bourgeoisie crime-prone and upper class or more affluent individuals commit crimes if they sense a good opportunity to make a financial gain. Under this theoretical orientation, the broker may be seen as responding to the drive toward success at any price that is said to push wealthier individuals toward criminality (Siegel, 2000).

From the perspective of cultural deviance theory, which is generally applied to specific social and econ

. . .
is young man is capitalizing upon differential opportunities to maximize his own sense of self and of value. It is this theory, along with MertonÆs (1957) definition of anomie that appears to be most appropriate in explaining this particular scenario. The Physician Who Cheats On His Taxes The fourth scenario involves a middle-class physician with an income of $90,000 per year who regularly cheats on his income tax. This particular type of crime can best be characterized as a white-collar crime and it almost meets the criteria of a ôvictimlessö crime in that government and society as a whole rather than any individual or subgroup, tend to be most negatively affected by the crime. Indeed, there are those who would suggest that cheating on income tax is an acceptable form of behavior. However, it is still illegal and can be accompanied by often quite severe sanctions when it occurs. From the perspective of conflict theory, the power relations in society might be asserted as influencing this doctorÆs decision to cheat on his taxes. However, conflict theorists believe that criminal and civil law are weapons employed by the affluent to maintain their dominance in the class struggle (Siegel, 2000). This view, therefore, does not
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Markson Stein, Cloward Ohlin, Baron Byrne, Cloward OhlinÆs, Date Rape, Cheats Taxes, Wall Street, Summary Conclusion, Perrucci Knudsen, College Student, siegel 2000, social process, cultural deviance, cultural deviance theory, choice theory, deviance theory, rational choice, criminal behavior, conflict theory, strain theory, social process theory, process theory, social process theories, rational choice theory, cloward ohlin 1960,
Approximate Word count = 5050
Approximate Pages = 20 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Cases and Theories of Criminality Introduction