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General Strain Theory: Effects Of Criminological Theories On White Collar Crime

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Abstract This paper looks to examine the effects of criminological theories on white collar crimes. White Collar Criminals do not use physical force to commit a crime but they use illegal channels to gain some type of monetary gain. Agnew et al discuss that General Strain Theory can be used to describe white collar crime. They say there are specific times when a high-class individual is strained to commit this type of crime. Lynn Langton also uses the General Strain Theory to describe White Collar Crime. She uses data to predict what type of White Collar Crime relates to the General Strain Theory. Andrea Schoepfer describes that the goals are what drives people to commit crimes and that is why high-class individuals commit crimes. She uses Institutional Anomie Theory to describe white collar criminals and their activities. The paper goes on to discuss rational choice theory of money …show more content…
There is a wide range of white collar crime and it can include fraud, embezzlement, bribery. Ponzi schemes and money laundering. In 1939, Edward Sutherland first used the term white collar crime “a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation”. White Collar crime can be traced back to the 15th Century and has been growing more prevalent since. White Collar Crime can be explained by the criminological theories of general strain theory and institutional anomie theory. Going further, money laundering, a type of white collar crime, has been explain by rational choice theory. Case studies show that money laundering has been used by terrorist and crime organizations and thus can be explained by rational choice theory

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