Social Class and Criminal Behavior: A Critique of the Theoretical Foundation

Theories of crimeldeviance are examined to determine how strongly the popular, but now controversial, hypothesis of a negative class lcrime association is rooted in theory. This review of eight theories shows that none actually provides an adequate rationale for predicting such a relationship. It is found that the theories lead to a negative class Icrime hypothesis only by addition of external assumptions, most of which are embodiments of preconceived notions about the lower class. Thus, the scientific status of the class Icrime hypothesis is further challenged. Possible explanations for the persistence of a belief in a negative association between class and crime, despite problematic empirical evidence and theoretical inadequacy, are suggested. A pervasive theme in sociology and criminology has always been that law violation is linked to the individual's position in the social structure (Schafer). Although the form of that postulated association varies (Hirschi, b; Tittle and Villemez), the most frequently hypothesized relationship is negative; i.e., criminal behavior is seen to vary inversely by social status, with particular concentration in the lowest socioeconomic stratum of any society. As Vold notes, Discussion of the sad state of the poor, with allegations of such undesirable consequences as sickness, vagrancy, crime, and hopeless despair go far back into antiquity (165-6). And Schafer's review of the literature demonstrates that Hardly any of the thinkers of the causes of criminality omitted poverty or economic conditions from their catalogue of crime factors, and thus an endeavor to present those who have treated this issue would mean to list almost all who treated the problem