What does differential opportunity theory emphasize?

• A. Crime results from economic deprivation alone.
• B. Crime is caused by media influence only.
• C. Crime originates when various groups endorse cultural values that clash with the dominant, conventional rules of society.
• D. Crime arises from random luck.

Answer: (C)

Differential opportunity theory centers on how unequal access to legitimate and illegitimate opportunities shapes crime. When groups have limited legitimate paths but access to illegitimate ones, they may form subcultures with values that support crime. These values often clash with the dominant, conventional rules of society, making criminal behavior seem rational within that context. It’s not just poverty, media influence, or luck driving crime; it’s the opportunity structure and the subcultural norms that emerge from it.