The Social Disorganization Theory Of Crime - 1141 Words

One of the most important and well-studied criminological theories intended to explain and predict crime rates is social disorganization theory (Sampson 2012). The social disorganization theory of crime was originally articulated by Shaw and McKay (1942) to explain differences in neighborhood crime rates among juvenile delinquents in concentric zones in the Chicago metropolitan area. They found that some areas had consistently high crime rates and juvenile arrests over time despite population changes in race and ethnicity, suggesting that structural factors within a neighborhood were more important for crime than characteristics of individuals within that location. The original theory provided examples of residential instability, racial†¦show more content†¦Lastly, economic disadvantage can bring unwanted chaos and disruption to the family, divorce, single parent situations, bring juveniles being unsupervised, which can lead to criminal opportunities, also a feeling of despe ration among the adults themselves, which can lead to other criminal behavior such as drug use, etc. The work of Bursik, (1988) demonstrated that individual and contextual factors are salient in predicting crime that victimization is important to assess in addition to crime rates and that a community’s crime rate may affect social control and vice versa. Institutional Anomie Theory in the simplest terms is a lack of social or ethical norms in an individual or group. When Dr. Merton (1938) was developing his theory on deviance, he analyzed American culture, structure, and anomie. Dr. Merton believed that all United States citizens believed and strived for the â€Å"American Dream†; however, the ways in which citizens obtain the â€Å"American Dream† of success are not the same, simply because not all citizens have the same opportunities and advantages. (Savolainen, 2000). Dr. Merton believed that this leads to deviance in achieving the â€Å"American Dream† by some who turn to illegal activity while still believing in the dream of success but using illegal means to obtain the dream by such activity as illegal drugShow MoreRelatedSocial Disorganization Theory And Crime998 Words   |  4 PagesStarz’ â€Å"Power , Social Disorganization Theory and Crime Introduction: In the television show â€Å"Power†, organized crime is the most prevalent form of crime displayed. Organized crime can be defined as a methodically unlawful activity for profit on a city-wide. interstate and worldwide scale. The act of engaging in criminal activity as a structured assembly is called racketeering in the United States. The premise of this project is to research social disorganization theory as it pertains to the televisionRead MoreThe Sociological Examination Of Crime862 Words   |  4 Pagesexplain crime by coming up with multiple social theories. Gavin states that psychologist suggest that those who commit crimes have â€Å"individual differences† that â€Å"make it more likely than some people to commit crimes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and that these social theories say that these crimes are a result of â€Å"the breakdown in social structures†. One of the first social theories that was introduced came about in 1938 by Merton, his theory is known as Str ain Theory. Gavin goes on to define Strain Theory as the â€Å"social structuresRead MoreEssay about Social Disorginization theory 1296 Words   |  6 Pagesthat researches begin to think differently about crime. Cullen and Agnew (2011) stated that the researchers began to think that the understanding of crime may not be found in the studying of an individual criminal traits but the study of the traits of the environment in which a criminal lives and interacts. According to Cullen and Agnew (2011) this led to a question in which researchers thought a possible solution of controlling and explain crime would be found in changing environments and neighborhoodsRead MoreSocial Disorganization Theory By The Chicago School1191 Words   |  5 Pages The theory that I found most illuminating in sociology is the social disorganization theory because is amongst the most imperative theories developed by the Chicago School, identified with ecological theories. The theory straightforwardly connects crime rates to neighbourhood ecological characteristics which a center standard of social disorganization theory is that place matters. In different words, an individual s private area is a significant component shaping the probability that that individualRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And Urban Areas1557 Words   |  7 Pagesaimed to explain crime in urban communities using social disorganization theory. Elliot and Merrill (1934) define social disorganization as â€Å"a breakdown in the equilibrium of forces, a decay in the social structure, so that old habits and forms of social control no longer function effectively† (p.20). Using this definition and the ecological approach, Shaw and McKay argue that low economic status, ethnic h eterogeneity, and residential mobility led to the disruption of community social organization (ShawRead MorePersonal Criminological Theory890 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Criminological theory To prevent crime, it is imperative that the law enforcement agencies and scholars examine why people commit crime. A number of theories have emerged and many still continue to be explored in exclusion and in combination to seek the best solutions that can ultimately reduce the types and the levels of crime. One such theory that is still being explored is social disorganization theory. According to this theory peoples tendency to take part in criminal activitiesRead MoreThe Social Of Crime And Criminal Behavior882 Words   |  4 Pagesneighborhoods or environments have on crime has been observed and studied throughout the last two centuries. Many theories, such as the social disintegration theory, have been hypothesized to explain the effects of certain neighborhoods on crime. In addition, other theories have been presented, such as the collective efficacy theory, which serve to explain the reasons for reduced crime in other neighborhoods while presenting possible solutions to sol ve the problem of crime in society. This paper willRead MoreSimilarities and Differences in Sociological Theories of Crime890 Words   |  4 PagesSimilarities and Differences in Sociological Theories of Crime Walden University Similarities and Differences in Sociological Theories of Crime Sociological theories of crime contain a great deal of useful information in the understanding of criminal behavior. Sociological theories are very useful in the study of criminal behavior because unlike psychological and biological theories they are mostly macro level theories which attempt to explain rates of crime for a group or an area rather than explainingRead MoreTheories on Crime1253 Words   |  5 PagesTheories on Crime: The field of criminology is basically described as the study of crime through which the causes, prevention, and correction of offenses are examined. While this process can be extremely difficult, especially for students, the analysis of the causes of crime is significant to sociology and criminology. The difficulties associated with the study of crime originate from the numerous challenges in developing theories that explain human behavior. In relation to crime, human behaviorRead MoreThe Theory of Social Disorganization701 Words   |  3 PagesSocial Disorganization Summary paper Social disorganization refers to the failure of group members to collaborate and accomplish objectives or tackle issues. Social disorganization normally alludes to a group or society described by the absence of social control. This brings about an absence of an effective functioning integration between personal maladjustment, conflicting social attitudes, and conflicting interests among group members (Goode, 2008). Criminologists and social researchers focus