Toward a Unified Criminology by Robert Agnew

Author:Robert Agnew [Agnew, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literary Criticism, Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, Social Science, Criminology, Sociology, General
ISBN: 9780814705094
Google: Fn0UCgAAQBAJ
Publisher: NYU Press
Published: 2011-11-15T02:53:39+00:00

The Social Origins of Conflicting Interests

Certain critical theorists have explained these conflicting interests in terms of human nature. People are said to be self-interested, which leads those in advantaged groups to protect their advantages and those in disadvantaged groups to strive for more (see Bernard, 1983; Einstadter and Henry, 2006). Most critical theorists, however, are skeptical of biologically based arguments (see Taylor et al., 1973). Instead, critical theorists focus on the social causes of conflicting interests. These causes include the economic organization of societies, cultural beliefs and values, and the history of group relations. Marxist criminologists make the most developed arguments in this area. They contend that the economic organization of society is the major factor promoting conflicting interests. Capitalism pits business owners against workers, since business owners must maximize their profits if they are to survive, while workers must increase their wages. To give another example, the cultural system is said to promote conflicting interests between blacks and whites. Blacks are frequently portrayed as dangerous by the media and other sources, which fosters the desire of whites to exercise control over them, particularly through the criminal justice system. Blacks, of course, are resistant to such efforts at control.

Critical theorists argue that the importance of social causes is demonstrated by the substantial variation in the extent and nature of conflicting interests across societies and over time. The views of men and women regarding appropriate gender roles, for example, have become more similar over the last few decades in the United States. Males are now much more likely to state that they should share household responsibilities with women, that it is acceptable for women to work outside the home, and that women are suited for politics (Bolzendahl and Meyers, 2004; Carter et al., 2009). These changes are not easily explained by human nature, which is fairly constant across societies and over long periods. These changes, however, are related to changing social conditions, such as the increased participation of women in the labor force. (Men with spouses in the labor force hold more equalitarian gender role attitudes; among other things, these men are more aware of gender discrimination, and they benefit if their wives are able to secure higher wages).

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