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Criminology Theories in MKULTRA Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Criminology Theories in MKULTRA

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

State Crime Theory

Core Idea:
States can commit crimes when they violate domestic or intern­ational law, or fundam­ental human rights, through action or omission
Key Figures:
Stanley Cohen – states of denial.
 
Penny Green & Tony Ward – state crime and human rights.
MKULTRA Relevance:
Conducted illegal human experi­men­tation, often without consent, violating the Nuremberg Code (1947).
 
Activities were concealed through classi­fic­ation, false reporting, and destru­ction of records.
 
Illust­rates state-­cor­porate crime — CIA partnered with univer­sities, hospitals, and pharma­ceu­tical companies.
Analytical Point:
Shows how states can justify illegal acts under the guise of national security.

Differ­ential Associ­ation Theory

Core Idea:
Criminal behaviour is learned through intera­ction with others
Key Figure:
Edwin H Sutherland
MKULTRA Relevance:
Operat­ives, scient­ists, and doctors working on MKULTRA learned techniques of deception, coercion, and non-co­nse­nsual experi­men­tation from one another.
 
Created a subculture where ethical norms were inverted — illegal actions were normalised as patriotic duty.
Analytical Point:
Profes­sional networks and covert culture reinforced deviant methods.

Neutra­lis­ation Theory

Core Idea:
Offenders use justif­ica­tions to neutralise guilt and maintain a positive self-i­mage.
Key Figures:
Gresham Sykes & David Matza
MKULTRA Relevance:
Denial of Injury: “The greater good of national security outweighs harm to indivi­duals.”
 
Appeal to Higher Loyalties: “Prote­cting America from communism justifies extreme measures.”
 
Denial of Victim: Subjects seen as expendable or as enemy sympat­hisers.
Analytical Point:
These ration­ali­sations helped partic­ipants continue unethical work without moral breakdown.
 

Strain Theory

Core Idea:
Crime can result from the pressure to achieve societal goals when legitimate means are blocked.
Key Figure:
Robert K. Merton
MKULTRA Relevance:
Cold War paranoia created pressure to achieve perfect interr­oga­tio­n/mind control techniques before the Soviets.
 
CIA saw “normal” scientific progress as too slow — resorted to illicit, high-risk experi­men­tation.
Analytical Point:
Shows how Cold War compet­ition functioned as a structural strain encour­aging deviance.

Techniques of State Secrecy

Core Idea:
Powerful actors use secrecy, bureau­cracy, and manipu­lation of law to conceal wrongdoing
Key Figures:
Jock Young – crimin­ology of the powerful
 
Laureen Snider – corpor­ate­/state crime cover-ups
MKULTRA Relevance:
Use of front organi­sat­ions, code names, and fragmented funding streams to hide activi­ties.
 
Destru­ction of records in 1973 to prevent exposure during Watergate climate.
 
Manipu­lating research grants to univer­sities to mask the true purpose.
Analytical Point:
Demons­trates how state power enables crimes that ordinary citizens cannot commit or hide.

Victim­ology

Core Idea:
The study of victims and victim­isation patterns
MKULTRA Relevance:
Many subjects came from vulnerable groups: psychi­atric patients, prisoners, sex workers, addicts, homeless indivi­duals.
 
The CIA targeted those with low social capital to minimise backlash.
 
Victims were often unaware they had been experi­mented on until decades later.
Analytical Point:
MKULTRA shows structural victim­isation — harm inflicted on those least able to resist or seek justice.
 

Organi­sat­ional Deviance

Core Idea:
When illegal or unethical practices become embedded in an organi­sat­ion’s culture
Key Figures:
Diane Vaughan (The Challenger Launch Decision)
MKULTRA Relevance:
Deviant practices instit­uti­ona­lised within CIA’s Technical Services Division.
 
The culture rewarded secrecy, operat­ional success, and innovation — not legality or ethics.
Analytical Point:
The deviance was not a rogue act, but part of CIA’s operat­ional DNA.

Routine Activity Theory

Core Idea:
Crime occurs when motivated offenders, suitable targets, and lack of capable guardians converge
Key Figures:
Lawrence Cohen & Marcus Felson
MKULTRA Relevance:
Motivated Offenders: CIA operat­ive­s/s­cie­ntists seeking Cold War advantage.
 
Suitable Targets: Vulnerable human subjects.
 
Absence of Guardians: Lack of oversight from Congress, courts, or public.
Analytical Point:
Secrecy acted as both a motivator and a shield against accoun­tab­ility.