NCJ Number
49006
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 355-370
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
IT IS CLAIMED THAT THE USE OF SCHOOLS AS TOOLS TO PREPARE YOUTHS TO FIT INTO A DEHUMANIZING CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURE CONTRIBUTES TO DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF CAPITALISM IS VIEWED AS THE BASIC STIMULUS TO DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR BECAUSE OF ITS PERCEIVED INHERENT DEHUMANIZING QUALITIES. PASSIVE OBEDIENCE TO THE CONTROLLERS OF PRODUCTION PROCESSES, RIGID BEHAVIOR THAT MUST CONFORM TO THE GOALS OF EFFICIENT PRODUCTION WITH MAXIMUM PROFIT, THE SPECIALIZED DEVELOPMENT OF A SINGLE MARKETABLE SKILL THAT IGNORES THE TOTAL PERSON, AND 'DEAD-END' JOBS LIMITED BY THE MANAGEMENT-WORKER STRUCTURE OF CAPITALIST BUSINESSES ARE CITED AS SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC STRUCTURE THAT CREATE A SENSE OF ALIENATION FROM WORK AND THE SOCIAL PROCESSES DETERMINED BY IT. DELINQUENCY IS VIEWED AS A NATURAL REACTION OF REBELLION BY THOSE WHO CANNOT OR WILL NOT BE CONDITIONED BY THE INFLUENCES DESIGNED TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN THE BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS ESSENTIAL TO THE PERPETUATION OF THE CAPITALIST SOCIOECONOMIC ORDER. THE CAPITALIST EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IS VIEWED AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL CONDITIONING INFLUENCES AGAINST WHICH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF YOUTH WILL INEVITABLY REBEL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SCHOOL CURRICULA AND TEACHING METHODS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE FIT INTO A SYSTEM THAT UNDERMINES CREATIVITY, INDIVIDUALITY, AND DEVALUES NONECONOMIC SKILLS. A SOCIALIST ORDER AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF CHINA AND CUBA IS URGED IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE THE FRUSTRATIONS AND HOSTILITY LEADING TO DELINQUENCY, AS THE SOCIOECONOMIC ORDER IS PERCEIVED TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE FOR TOTAL HUMAN FULFILLMENT. (RCB)