NCJ Number
7629
Journal
Criminology Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1972) Pages: 217-233
Date Published
1972
Length
17 pages
Annotation
ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN WHY SOME FORMS OF DEVIANT AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PERSIST IN SPITE OF SOCIAL COERCION AND CONTROL AND OTHERS HAVE NOT.
Abstract
PROFESSIONAL THEFT HAS BEEN SELECTED AS AN EXAMPLE AND BASIS OF COMPARISON WITH OTHER FORMS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, SINCE IT REPRESENTS A COMPLEX OF ACTIVITIES WHICH HISTORICALLY HAVE ELICITED A LOW SOCIETAL RESPONSE. THE AUTHOR DEFINES SOCIAL VISIBILITY AS SEEN BY THE VICTIM, THE SOCIAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. PROFESSIONAL THEFT LACKS VISIBILITY BECAUSE VICTIMS WHO ARE OFTEN ALSO DEVIANTS AND SOCIAL FORCES WHO ARE OFTEN THEMSELVES CORRUPT TEND TO SUPPRESS VISIBILITY. THE THIEF HIMSELF LACKS VISIBILITY AND MAINTAINS A TIGHTLY CLOSED AND SEGREGATED SOCIAL SYSTEM. THIS LACK OF VISIBILITY DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE TO SOCIETY'S REACTION AND RESPONSE TO THE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT USING THIS ANALYSIS THE MAJOR FORMS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE RANKED FOR VISIBILITY AND SOCIETAL REACTION.