This chapter analyzes sociological theories of criminal
behavior, focusing on those that consider society’s social
structure or organization. The two basic approaches are
consensus and conflict. The consensus approach views
folkways, mores, and laws as reflections of society’s values,
which arise out of group sharing, especially through voting.
The result is that some acts are defined as wrong, even
criminal, although some crime is seen as inevitable, even
functional. In the conflict approach, criminal behavior
emerges as a conflict between groups within society. There
is a struggle: Someone wins, someone loses. Making and
enforcing laws is a struggle, and those in power dominate
the processes.