Social Class and Criminality

• Published in: Social forces Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 474 - 502
• Main Authors: Tittle, Charles R., Villemez, Wayne J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chapel Hill, N.C The University of North Carolina Press 01.12.1977; University of North Carolina Press
• Subjects: Assault; Crime; Crime/Crimes (see also Criminal); Criminal offenses; Criminal/Criminals/Criminality/Criminally (see also Crime); Criminals; Criminology/Criminological; Deviant behavior; Deviant/Deviance/Deviates/ Deviation; Juvenile delinquency; Larceny; Marijuana; Marx, Karl/Marxist/Marxism; Self reports; Social class/Social classes; Social classes; Social Control and Deviance; Socioeconomic status
• ISSN: 0037-7732; 1534-7605
• DOI: 10.1093/sf/56.2.474

Social class variations in self-reported criminality are examined using data from a comprehensive sample of adults in three states. The results prove to be contrary to any current theories concerning the relationship between social class and deviance, particularly the most popular ones that postulate an inverse relationship between the two. But it is shown that these findings are actually consistent with the bulk of previous research which shows the relationship to be problematic. The extant evidence seems to mandate reconceptualization of theories of deviance to minimize social class as a variable.