Crime and the American Dream

by Steven F. Messner, Richard Rosenfeld

The basic idea behind this book is that the American dream TTitselfTT and the normal social conditions engendered by it are deeply implicated in the problem of crime (e.g., our cultural emphasis on achievement which promotes productivity and innovation, also generates pressures to succeed at any cost). In looking at the American dream, Messner and Rosenfeld examine interconnections between culture and institutional structure in contemporary American society and explore the implications of these interconnections for levels of crime.This critical examination challenges students to question and critically analyze broadly supported cultural goals and social organization. The book's tightly crafted theoretical perspective also helps students see the application of theory to real world problems.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction, School

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A criminological theory classic, Messner and Rosenfeld's work repetitively argues that the materialism undergirding the American Dream, the subsumption of all other social institutions to the economic imperative, leads to anomie (the loosening of normative controls) and thus produces the high levels of violent crime seen in the US. Their work extends particularly on the work of sociologist Robert Merton, who posited that universalistic goals but blocked legitimate opportunities to achieved those goals results in crime. Their "twist," though, is that even if everyone had more opportunity, the disproportionate emphasis on economic success in the United States will still lead to crime because value is not given to things like family, civic participation, and the social welfare of others. The cultural shift has to take place first, and they make proposals on how to do this. They do seem mired in some conservative thought, such as when the argue for the importance of the nuclear family unit and children to this picture. While their theory is compelling and helpful in many ways, their strict constructionism is frustrating. They claim that they can explain the vast differences in offending rates between men and women, therefore, by women's more pronounced involvement in the family, but suggest that the less women are tied up in these other institutions, the more likely they are to also offend. This, in my opinion, flies in the face of common sense. Even in other societies where there is much more emphasis on family and social institutions for males, there still exists vast disparities in violent offending. At one point, the constructionists will have to have a dialogue with the positivists who also demand the insertion of biological considerations. Nature and nurture should be accounted for in this broader picture. Other theoretical holes exist: for example, how to account for high rates of crime in countries that don't have the "American Dream" as a cultural imperative.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crime and the American dream changed the way that I view crime entirely. Crime was not one of my interests and I mostly ignored the subject. This book put crime into a framework that could be easily understood. It also made it easy to relate the subject to many other social and political conditions we face in America as Americans.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on American cultural values and how they create a state of institutional anomie, leading to high crime rates. I use this in my criminology class.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two sentences. That's how much attention was given to the positive influence the concept of the American Dream has had on our country. Zero words. That's how many were dedicated to explaining why people worldwide fight tooth and nail to come to America for better lives. The authors presented an interesting theory, sure, but without acknowledging the obviously positive influences our nationwide, decades-old mantra has had, it stunk of agenda and bias.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Criminology text detailing the "win at all costs" mentality found in American culture and its impact on violent crime rates. A MUST READ!!!! Hehehe.

[Diannegibson]

Fascinating analysis of American culture and how it is really "organized for crime."