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Social Structure Theory

Social Structure Theory. SOC 112 Chapter 6. Ecological theories - human behavior developed / changed - social / physical environment a. Social Disorganization - Shaw / McKay - explained relationships - increase crime = complexities of society

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Social Structure Theory

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  1. Social Structure Theory SOC 112 Chapter 6

  2. Ecological theories - human behavior developed / changed - social / physical environment a. Social Disorganization - Shaw / McKay - explained relationships - increase crime = complexities of society - social disorganization = causes crime (1) Durkheim’s = social cohesiveness - social organization exists

  3. - harmony / internal cohesion - based on values / norms (a) Values (goals) - society deems appropriate - strive to work for (b) Norms - rules on how to behave - violated by groups in society - social disorganization occurs - looked down upon

  4. (2) Concentric circle approach - dividing city into 5 zones - look at: characteristics / social change - distribution: people / behavior (a) Zone 1 = central business district - light manufacturing / retail trade - commercialized recreation (b) Zone 2 = zone of transition - surrounds business district - transition = business / residence

  5. - population = low-income people - may have = luxury housing (c) Zone 3 = working-class homes - less deteriorated - workers = afford many comforts (d) Zone 4 = middle-class dwellers - populated largely by: - professional people / clerical - small business owners - managerial class

  6. (e) Zone 5 = commuter zone - satellite towns / suburbs - commute to city for work (2) To explain crime - key = zone 2 (a) Manufacturing / businesses move in - area deteriorates - those who can = move out (b) Low income / mostly unskilled

  7. - racial / ethnic segregation - cheap theaters / restaurants - bars / liquor stores / pawn shops (c) Breakdown - usual methods of control - community / police / church etc (3) Zone of transition - more socially disorganized - greater crime - community support = very weak / nonexistent

  8. (a) Four elements - makeup social disorganization (b) Low-income status - different ethnic groups - highly mobile = move in / out - disrupted / broken families b. Differential association - introduced in 1939 = Edwin Sutherland - criminal behavior is learned - association with others

  9. - association = criminal behavior / attitudes - crime is learned = like any other behavior - theory has nine statements: (1) Criminal behavior is learned - not inherited (2) In interactions with others - process of communication - gestures as well as verbal (3) Occurs within intimate groups

  10. - family / peers / etc. (4) Learning includes: - techniques for committing crime - motives / drives / rationalization / attitude (5) Motives / drives - learned from legal code definitions - “culture conflict” = opposing attitudes (6) Excess of definitions

  11. - favorable to law violations (7) Differential associations may vary - frequency / duration / priority / intensity (8) Learning crime - involves all mechanisms of learning (9) Criminal behavior is not excused - by expressing needs / values - non-criminal expresses same

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