White Collar Crime and Informal Social Control: The Case of “Crisis Responders” in the Swedish Banking and Finance Sector

Oskar Engdahl

doi:10.4236/sm.2011.12010

Abstract

Drawing upon case studies on the type of white-collar offenders frequently called “crisis responders”, this article critically examines Sampson and Laubs general theory on informal social control. In the article, this theory is for the first time confronted with data not used in its development and prior testing. Based on the evidence, the theory retains its validity for the white-collar offenders considered, insofar as their crime was closely connected to a perceived threat of identity loss, distrust in social support obtainable from others, and lack of supervision and monitoring at workplace. At the same time, the argument is made that the notion of interdependence relied upon in this theory needs to be developed more fully if it is to take into account the kind of dependency relations tying these particular offenders to their environment.

Highlights

The theory of informal social control as advanced in the work of Robert J
In sharp contrast to Sampson and Laub’s research material crisis responders is white collar offenders who committed their crime in the course of normal business activities and up until getting caught led a regular life in ordered social settings
In the case of crisis responders, this may happen as a result of mistakes and shortcomings that have left them unable to live up to the demands and expectations on which the support and influence they had been able to enjoy in their social relations was premised

Summary

Oskar Engdahl

Drawing upon case studies on the type of white-collar offenders frequently called “crisis responders”, this article critically examines Sampson and Laub’s general theory on informal social control. In the article, this theory is for the first time confronted with data not used in its development and prior testing. The theory retains its validity for the white-collar offenders considered, insofar as their crime was closely connected to a perceived threat of identity loss, distrust in social support obtainable from others, and lack of supervision and monitoring at workplace. The argument is made that the notion of interdependence relied upon in this theory needs to be developed more fully if it is to take into account the kind of dependency relations tying these particular offenders to their environment

Introduction

Sampson and Laub on Informal Social Control

Data and Method used in the Current Study

Nonshareable Problems and Loss of Social Capital

Situated Choice under Threat of Identity Loss

Discussion and Conclusions