ABSTRACT
The relevance of understanding small-group social control mechanisms to the study of crime is obvious. This chapter consider this more in depth by focusing first on general theories of crime and then on relevant aspects of the Japanese social structure. It discusses learning theories and subculture theories, when they consider white-collar crimes. The chapter focuses on what most criminologists would claim is the main factors, and related them to how they fit in with elements of the Japanese social structure. It reviews structural theories and explores that Japan's low level of unemployment for young males contributes to its low crime rate. The chapter also discusses learning theories, which claim crime and deviant behavior are learned in primary groups. It shows control theories, which predicts that people who have strong ties to conventional society will refrain from participating in criminal or deviant acts because of a fear of injuring those ties.
