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In ‘Why Do We Admire Mobsters?’, Maria Konnikova argues psychological distance allows the Italian mafia to be romanticized by the involved and uninvolved alike, as well as its popular role throughout history.
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Konnikova begins the article with a lighthearted anecdote of a family dinner that Elaine Scott attended. After establishing the scene’s warmth, it is revealed that the uncle starring in the story is Charlie “Lucky” Luciano, a prominent member of the Italian mafia. This cleverly gives the reader a taste of psychological distance. Scott is meant to represent it in a traditional sense-- she’s looking back on a childhood event and reminiscing on it, and nostalgia is referenced as an emotion that fuels psychological distance. Contrastingly, anyone reading the article who isn’t personally involved with the mafia is charmed with the story, and
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tricks them into being endeared by Luciano’s familial devotion directly before Konnikova explains why it’s possible. Introducing the concept by giving the reader an example, as well as an experience, is a subtle way to support the author’s argument. Konnikova also references the origins of the mafia and how they contributed to its initial popularity.
When the Volstead Act banned alcohol, the general populace were outraged, and the mafia were revered as they provided illicit beverages anyhow. The ‘alien conspiracy theory of organized crime’ is also mentioned. This is when people assume that races that are often associated with mobsters, such as Italian-Americans or Irish-Americans, exaggerated their ‘evil intent’ so much that made them less threatening. People found it easier to find the mafia personable when they weren’t involved with illegal dealings, because they believed it didn’t involve them otherwise, and subsequently provided psychological distance through unfamiliarity. This occurred while the mafia was thriving, as well as today, when people tend to look back on the Godfather period for entertainment. The article finishes by saying that psychological distance ‘makes us part of the family’ by allowing is to see things from an insider’s perspective. It suggests that psychological distance can bring people closer, rather than farther, from a foreign
concept. 3: An abundance of professional input is provided, making Konnikova’s argument more believable. James Finckenauer, a professor at Rutgers University and an author of a book about the mafia, is used to explain the history of the aforementioned crime lords. The ‘alien conspiracy theory’ that people used to villainize foreigners like Italian-American immigrants is also supported by Finckenauer, as well as unnamed criminologists. Psychological distance itself was coined by Yaacov Trope, an NYU psychologist.
Thomas Reppetto’s book is a solid account of the events that took place between 1880 and 1995. The events are detailed and contain fact and evidence, he uses first hand knowledge, being a former chicago commander of detectives, Reppetto was well equipped to write this book. In American Mafia, and its rise to power, Reppetto shows the different parts of the mafia and their communication with the police and italian civilians. The book starts off showing the worst part of the mob, or mafia, and how bad they truly are. Using examples like how many people they’ve taken out and how they’d be one of the richest fortune 500 companies, ift was legal. The book also has how the police reacted to the crimes, in chapter one, they take you into the lives
the mafia is powerful, they know how to cover their tracks they are master of manipulation . The mafia were angry at president kennedy in this article published by (anthony and robin ), assassination
As more and more immigrants began to spread throughout the US, more and more gangs of people began to emerge. Gangs were usually made up of people of a common ethnicity, whether it be Irish, Italian, or Hispanic. These gangs were usually victims of anti-immigrant policies and looked for strength in numbers. As gangs became more and more sophisticated they realized they could make profits from the power they were accumulating. One of the most recognizable examples is the bootlegging of alcohol during the Prohibition. When federal officials attempted to enforce legislation such as the Volstead Act, there was a surge of illegal sales and profits. In 1927, Al Capone and his gang racked up over $60 million from bootlegged alcohol. With all of this money came tons of violence, people were getting murdered in broad daylight just so others could have a sum of all of this wealth. Soon Mob families would own clubs or casinos to increase their wealth. The attendees weren’t only made up of rich mob bosses, the alcohol, dancing, and gambling attracted many ordinary
May, Allen.(2004). John Gotti: The Last Mafia Icon. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from Court TVs Crime Library. Web Site: http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/mob_bosses/gotti/index_1.html
Tricarico, Donald. "GUIDO: FASHIONING AN ITALIAN-AMERICAN YOUTH STYLE." The Journal of Ethic Studies 19.1: 1-6. Queensborough Community College. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .
Organized crime has developed a stigma regarding its power and influence, especially during its hay day in the 1930’s. The mob has always been viewed as a powerful “family-like” organization. In Scarface, Hawkes brings the mafia into a seemingly more realistic light. By overturning Lovo’s position of power, Tony represents the idea of “every man for himself,” within a supposed organized group. The viewer steps into a cut-throat world of power hungry men, all trying to get rich quick. In this world, Hawkes asks, how can you organize men towards any goal if they all seek personal gain?
The brothers’ vigilante deviance has many causes, all stemming form the Social theory of deviance. The Labeling, Conflict and Strain theories are three of the most important theories for understanding what caused the brothers to start, continue, and stop killing the mafia. Each of the theories plays a part in causing the brothers’ to kill, but without all of them they would not have the acceptance and success that they did. These theories, even though they are meant for the real world are just as relevant for works of fiction in movies and books.
V. The Mafia Manager: A Guide to the Corporate Machiavelli. Toronto: St. Martin's Press, 1997
People in Sicily believed that they could not trust the country’s police service, so they created their own organized protection that later evolved into the Mafia. Later on, the group engaged in organized crime and formed the Sicilian mafia. They came from Sicily to America during the mid 1800s due to bad conditions in Sicily where almost everyone was below the poverty line. Giuseppe Esposito and six other Sicilian members were the first to leave and fled to New York after they killed the chancellor and vice chancellor of Sicily. Then on the five main Sicilian mafia families were created and the majority of the mafia came to America in the early 20th century.
The Mafia is a secret criminal organization that has great economic and political control over large parts of Sicilian society and operates both criminal and legitimate enterprises in the United States. It is believed to have started during Sicily's late Middle Ages, beginning as separate bonds of strong-arm enforcers hired by local landowners. It eventually evolved into a network of independent groups governing in rural areas. With the Sicilian immigration of the late 19th century, the Mafia began to operate in several large United States cities. During the period of Prohibition it monopolized the trade in bootleg liquor and controlled loan sharking, gambling, and prostitution. Competing Mafia families established mutually recognized territories, reaching agreement by negotiation or by intimidation. By the mid-1930 the Mafia had taken on the institutionalized structure that is now typical of organized crime in the United States.
Since the beginning of its existence as a country, Italy has faced enormous challenges in establishing itself as a unified political and social entity. The geographic, economic, and linguistic differences between its various regions and the artificial manner in which they were amalgamated created a legacy of internal divisions that continues to dominate the country's political climate to this day. Italy's numerous historical fiascoes, such as its disastrous involvement in the two World Wars and the rise of fascism, further escalated the domestic problems that had haunted it since the Risorgimento. At first, the anti-fascist Resistance movement, which dominated the end of World War II, seemed to bring Italy a ray of hope, promising a new era of freedom, reform, and democratic representation. However, this hope was quickly extinguished, as widespread poverty, government corruption, and deep divisions between regions and classes persisted and no true social reform was attained. These harsh conditions were depicted by a group of Italian film directors whose neorealist works have since been celebrated as masterpieces of world cinema. One of the most prominent of these is Vittorio De Sica's The Bicycle Thief. This 1948 film discusses the prevalent themes dominating Italy's social and political history, within the context of the unsettlingly poor post-War urban proletariat.
This idea of attitudes shows why a secret society such as the Mafia should luxuriate in Sicily, and could easily be transplanted into the ghettos of the New World. The associates of the Mafia are called fratellos. They are to obey a capo, which they elect. The capo then picks the consigliari (counselors), whom help him to make justice and judgments. When one of the fratellos finds himself in any sort of difficulty, the association tries to help and assist him.
The Mafia is an Italian secret criminal society. The Mafia, or syndicate, impacts cities all around the world. Most of the effects of the Mafia are negative, but there can be several positive effects on the culture and economy of the cities in which it frequents.
Organized crime in the United States keeps the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in a never-ending investigation of criminals suspected of the infiltration of legitimate businesses. A notorious twentieth century organized group was the New England Patriarca Mafia, or N.E.P.M.. Originating in 1915, the N.E.P.M. evolved over the early twentieth century decades, until 1954 when Raymond Loredo Salvatore Patriarca was donned as boss* and promptly began to expand its power. Due to mafia-related language that will be present throughout the paper, a page of definitions is supplied at the end of the paper. Defined words throughout the paper will be noted with an asterisk, “ * ”.
Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia A history of Its Rise to Power. Edited by John Macrae. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2004.