Crime is a socially constructed term for deviant behavior and can be examined through two primary lenses. The first is from an individual standpoint, and the second is from a societal standpoint. Psychology pertains to the individual, and sociology pertains to the societal. Psychology studies internal mental processes and human interaction and sociology studies the development, structure, and functioning of society. A part of sociology attempts to identify and explain crime patterns and how they occur.
According to the social disorganization theory, Billy has a lower socioeconomic status; he is more likely to commit crime. The theory also can explain Billy’s lack of family structure and unity, as well as his breakdown in the community. Billy began breaking the law as a young man; so he likely replaced his family and educators influence with influence from his peers. Later, even as a twenty-eight year old this breakdown both in family and community is evident in his criminal behavior. He more than likely inherited the delinquent values which permitted further criminal deviant
Usually when a youth is classified as a delinquent it is associated with antisocial behaviors within the family and in the community such as aggression and can lead to related problems such as vandalism, substance usage and running away, theft, robbery, and larceny, gang memberships and school shootings. Juveniles are typically not charged like adults unless the crime is serious. Delinquency in the United States is examined with the emphasis on its relation to local communities and the groups and institutions that form the social world of children and adolescents (Cavan &
Pew Research Center collected information from 3,769 adults to see how they perceive race relation and the equality of minorities in today’s American society. The survey provided an accurate basis for assessing the significance of race relations. The findings illustrated in The Black and White in America shows that more must be done to alleviate the social conditions that results from the color divide. This cultural lag is one of the major sources of social disorganization. In the United States skin color is one obvious difference and it apparent in the survey.
The social disorganization theory suggests that youths turn to delinquency based on the community that they live in. Thus, if a community is primarily known to generally participate in criminal behavior, the youth will not have a strong, structured community to
This paper explores the vandalism and graffiti birthed as a result of the “Fire Katehi” movement analyzed with the use of sociological lenses. This movement arose as a result of the UC Davis Chancellor’s decision to take part in a textbook company- a total conflict interest for the students she is supposed to be leading to success. In addition, rumors that Linda Katehi took a seat on a school board for DeVry University when student of UC Davis needed her support and encouragement on her home campus. Using the social disorganization theory and the concept of collective efficacy, social ad communal delinquency and the motivations for vandalism will be defined and accounted for.
Within the past couple of decades, criminologists have developed different criminological theories that apply to the social behaviors and decisions of criminals. One of the earliest theories developed regarding criminality is the rational choice theory, in which describes the rationalization of determining if the rewards from committing the crime outweigh the consequences. In Scarver’s case, his decision to engage in criminal activities outweighed the potential consequences, or the other alternatives if he did not engage in such criminal activities. In addition to the rational choice theory, Scarver’s criminality can be related to the social disorganization theory, which describes the influence of one’s social and physical environment on one’s decision to commit a crime. Lastly, the strain theory can be related to Scarver’s criminality as well, as it is used to describe an individual who lacks the means to obtain such goals, and aspirations, so therefore, he or she engages in criminal activities to acquire the goals.
In this paper I will be analyzing how living in a stressful, violent, and poverty-ridden environment in combination with racial discrimination can allow residents of that community too develop a “code of the street”, a set of informal rules to abide by. The two theories I will be connecting this matter to, is the social learning theory and social disorganization theory. More often, these street codes and rules are created by young gang members who manage and “run” the neighbourhood and have an influence. It is a requirement for every resident to not only be aware but abide by the rules, it does not matter the age, sex, or colour, but more where that individual resides, at times it may be for survival. Some of the rules in this code are
“The theory of social disorganization states a person’s physical and social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioral choices that a person makes. At the core of social disorganization theory, is that location matters when it comes to predicting illegal activity. Shaw and McKay noted that neighborhoods with the highest crime rates have at least three common problems, physical dilapidation, poverty, and a higher level of ethnic and culture mixing. Shaw and McKay claimed that delinquency was not caused at the individual level, but is a normal response by normal individuals to abnormal conditions. Social disorganization theory is widely used as an important predictor of youth violence and crime.”
It does not consider other factors such as criminal associations, individual traits, and inner strains, which plays a significant role in determining punishment for the individuals in committing crimes. It is observed that this theory endeavours to know that whether the activities of crime as well as the victim’s choice, criminals commit the activities on start from rational decisions. The theory also determines that criminals consider different elements before committing crime. They engage in the exchange of ideas before reaching on any final decision. These elements consist of consequences of their crimes, which include revealing their families to problems or death, chances of being arrested, and others elements, which comprises of placement of surveillance systems (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010; Lichbach,
The Social disorganization theory is an idea under the social structure theory that focuses on the urban environmental conditions that contribute to the development of crime. Furthermore, the theory states that if one lives in a deteriorated neighborhood where there is inadequate social control and law-violating gangs, there is a greater risk of becoming an offender themselves. There are many factors that contribute to an urban area becoming one of the centers of criminal activity. The most prominent ideas under the social disorganization theory that contribute to an area becoming a crime-ridden concentric zone are as follows: transitional neighborhoods, community deterioration, and chronic unemployment. Transitional neighborhoods are those that are experiencing a shift in population demographics, usually in the form of economic status.
Understanding the risk and protective factors of child delinquency is imperative in order to create and implement treatment and intervention programs. Because children’s behavior develops during the first five years, it is important to know what risk and protective factors could increase the likelihood of a child becoming a child offender (Wasserman et al., 2003). Moreover, overcoming the risk factors would help prevent the child offender from becoming a juvenile, and later, adult offender. As Wasserman et al (2003) stated, “risk factors for child delinquency operate in several domains: the individual child, the child’s family, the child’s peer group, the child’s school, the child’s neighborhood, and the media” (pg.1). As one can see, children are exposed to risk in partially every aspect of their lives.
The story of 3 girls who were kidnapped and kept captive for over 10years. On May 6 2013 America was thrilled and happy to hear that after 10 years of abduction Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina Dejesus were finally free. The trio had been abducted by Ariel Castro a bus driver and kept in captivity in his house on 2207 Seymour Avenue. He thinks the young girls all have something in common and that’s it’s their fault for trusted him and accepted a ride from Castro. (Here I am going to relate victimization theory).
The associations are reviewed as an aspect of social structure and crime because of associations due to economic struggles by classes of people or groups (Schmalleger, 2012). Social disorganization theory views society as a living organism and that criminal behavior is compared to a disease. Strain theory looks at the lack of fit between socially approved success
This research paper draws on existing sociological research and classical social theories to examine juvenile delinquency, and to prove that juvenile delinquency in the schools are linked to social structure, within a sample of the entire form three student population. The two major theories this research paper will highlight is the strain theory coined by Robert Merton and social disorganization theory by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay reason for using the same is that they are old theories, but often relates to modern criminality and delinquency, and also focuses on social structure and social functioning in society. Both social disorganization theory, and strain theory states that high
