Social Structure Theory, Slides of Criminology

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Social Structure Theory

SOC 112

Chapter 6

1. 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

(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

• 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

• 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

(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

• 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

• 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