Chicago School Theories

Question 1

Builds on Durkheim’s ideas…

Answer 1

• Social change leads to crime.

- Modern societies are comprised of different individuals fighting to survive.

Question 2

Core ideas

Answer 2

• Zonal Hypothesis
• Natural Areas
• Social Learning Theories
• Industrialisation
• Populations have migratory tendencies

Question 3

Zonal Hypothesis - Ernest Burgess

Answer 3

5 zones (starting from inside going out(

1) Central Business District.
2) Transitional Zone.
3) Working Class Zone.
4) Residential Zone.
5) Commuter Zone.

Question 4

Natural Areas - Robert E Park and Urban Ecology

Answer 4

• Each zone is made of natural areas - neighbourhoods, estates, streets (e.g. same race, class).
• Cities survive because natural areas work together.
• Social upheaval occurs when natural areas are ‘invaded’ e.g. migration occurring.

Question 5

Zone of Transition - Shaw and McKay

Answer 5

Areas become zones of transition due to social upheaval.
The worst neighbourhoods were ones with high population turnover.
These areas are therefore socially disorganised.
Only settle down if the new population dominates and succeeds the previous population.

Question 6

Social Learning Theory

Answer 6

• Learning
• Social
• Cognition
• Social responses can reinforce it - there is a reward for criminal behaviour for example, with no one to challenge it.

Question 7

Cultural Transmission - Shaw and McKay

Answer 7

• Values are transmitted from generation to generation in natural areas.
• Neighbourhoods develop transitions (skills of crime).
• Particular areas become established as delinquent.
• Delinquent areas = socially disorganised.
• Delinquent activity begin at a young age as part