NCJ Number
44318
Journal
Social Forces Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 474-502
Date Published
1977
Length
29 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM A 1972 SURVEY OF 1,993 HOUSEHOLDS (57 PERCENT RESPONSE) IN NEW JERSEY, IOWA, AND OREGON ARE ANALYZED IN A STUDY OF SOCIAL CLASS VARIATIONS IN SELF-REPORTED CRIMINALITY AMONG ADULTS.
Abstract
THE SAMPLE WAS SELECTED TO REPRESENT VARIATIONS IN DEGREE OF URBANIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION AND TO MINIMIZE BIAS DUE TO CULTURAL VARIABLES. DATA GATHERED IN 1-HOUR INTERVIEWS ARE USED TO EXAMINE ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN INDICATORS OF CRIMINALITY AND THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES OF SOCIAL CLASS AND SOCIAL MOBILITY UNDER A VARIETY OF CONTROL CONDITIONS. THE SOCIAL CLASS INDEX TAKES INTO ACCOUNT FAMILY INCOME, OCCUPATION, AND EDUCATION. SOCIAL MOBILITY IS INDEXED BY COMPARING THE OCCUPATIONAL LEVEL OF THE RESPONDENT WITH THAT OF THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD IN WHICH THE RESPONDENT GREW UP. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED HOW OFTEN IN THE PAST 5 YEARS THEY HAD STOLEN SOMETHING WORTH APPROXIMATELY $5 OR $50, GAMBLED ILLEGALLY, CHEATED ON INCOME TAXES, PHYSICALLY HARMED SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY, AND SMOKED MARIJUANA. RESPONDENTS WERE ALSO ASKED TO ESTIMATE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY WOULD COMMIT THESE OFFENSES IN THE FUTURE. THE RESULTS CONTRADICT POPULAR THEORIES ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL CLASS AND DEVIANCE, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT POSTULATE AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL CLASS AND CRIMINALITY APPEARS TO BE PROBLEMATIC, AS HAS BEEN SHOWN IN PREVIOUS RESEARCH. EVIDENCE SEEMS TO MANDATE A RETHINKING OF THEORIES OF DEVIANCE TO MINIMIZE SOCIAL CLASS AS A VARIBALE. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.