Economic Dominance, the “American Dream,” and Homicide: A Cross-National Test of Institutional Anomie Theory

2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorine A. Hughes ◽  
Lonnie M. Schaible ◽  
Benjamin R. Gibbs
Keyword(s):  
American Dream ◽  
Institutional Anomie Theory ◽  
Anomie Theory ◽  
National Test ◽  
Cross National

scholarly journals Institutional Anomie Theory and Cybercrime—Cybercrime and the American Dream, Now Available Online

2021 ◽  
pp. 104398622110015
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Dearden ◽  
Katalin Parti ◽  
James Hawdon
Keyword(s):  
American Dream ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Online Behavior ◽  
Institutional Anomie Theory ◽  
Anomie Theory ◽  
American Capitalism ◽  
Criminological Theories

As the world becomes increasingly connected and interdependent upon technology, crimes are moving online. Research on cybercrime is beginning to test the applicability of traditional criminological theories for understanding crime in this new medium. Using a national sample of 215 self-admitted cybercriminals, we examine Messner and Rosenfeld’s institutional anomie theory. Negative binomial regressions reveal that expressed levels of institutional anomie correlate with increased cybercrime activity. A curvilinear relationship was found, such that low and high levels of institutional anomie lead to higher levels of cybercrime. Our findings reveal how the dark side of the American Dream can lead to online criminality. Specifically, the penetration of, and accommodation to economic values dictated by American capitalism can lead individuals to adopt values such as the fetishism of money that, in turn, affects their online behavior and criminality.

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