Discussion/Study Questions Week 8

 

How do Merton’s and Agnew’s use of the term “strain” differ? It is often suggested that Merton’s theory is a macro theory while Agnew’s is a micro theory. Why do you think this is said?

How do Cloward and Ohlin extend the ideas originally put forth by Merton?

Rosenfeld and Messner suggest that the economy dominates all of the other social institutions. What do they mean by this, and how does this influence crime?

In Hagan’s chapter entitled “A New Sociology of Crime and Disrepute” he discusses the “process of capital disinvestments”. He suggests that this process can lead to residential segregation, race-linked inequality, and concentrations of poverty. Which, if any of these concepts are evident in Moore’s portrayal of Flint, Michigan?

It is often suggested that capital disinvestments will have more of an influence on the crime rates of the children of the displaced workers, than the workers themselves. Using Flint, Michigan as a case study, why do you think this might be the case?

Which (if any) of the theories of criminal behavior that we have discussed in class are best illustrated by Moore’s story?

How does the capital disinvestments process influence the development or value of the human capital, social capital, and cultural capital that Hagan talks about? To what degree is this illustrated in Moore’s story?