Social Disorganization Theory Flashcards
How did Thomas and Znaniecki define social disorganization? How was their definition inspired by their observations of the Polish immigrant experience?
“a decrease of the influence of existing social rules of behavior
upon individual members of the group”; concern w Polish immigrant children (their behavior)
social disorganization theory
emphasize breakdown in collective social control; rapid social change –> disruption of normative consensus –> increase in deviance and crime
Robert Park’s terms “natural areas” and “invasion, dominance & succession into criminology”? relevance to social disorganization?
natural areas - unique economic and cultural structure –> unique function (residential, industrial, mixed); invasion, dominance & succession - challenge/displace groups for dominance (ex: gentrification)
Describe Burgess’ Concentric Zone Model
industrial growth outward; zone in transition had highest rates of crime due to invasion, dominance and succession being the most prominent–> most disruption and low social control; the remaining zones as you go outwards consists of higher social status people so nicer neighborhoods
According to Shaw & McKay’s Social Disorganization model, what three variables (“structural antecedents of social disorganization”) were linked to higher rates of crime? How does the SD theory explain the association between each of these variables and crime rates?
poverty (low SES), population instability, ethnic/racial heterogeneity
How did Kasarda & Janowitz’s work on community attachment contribute to the elaboration of social disorganization theory?
answered key question of the mediating process of theory– resident’s “attachment” to neighborhood (length of residence and social ties)
Describe the 3 levels of social control (as elaborated by Bursik and Grasmick)
private, parochial, and public; the more ties the less disorganization and crime
collective efficacy (as described by Samspon, Raudenbush & Earls)
a mutual trust & solidarity among neighbors and a willingness to intervene for the common good; additional intervening factor along social ties
negotiated coexistence model
social ties create reciprocal obligations b/n criminal and non-criminal residents
How did Shaw and McKay incorporate culture into the theory?
alternative/deviant culture is a mediating variable
How is Anderson’s Code of the Street theory fit into a social disorganization theory perspective?
“oppositional culture” that contradicts mainstream due to deprivation; conventional standard of success are inaccessible (social causation)
What were their major findings? Which structural antecedents of social disorganization were predictive of crime in rural areas? Which were not?
the three variables also applied in rural areas (ethnic diversity, residential instability and family disruption); poverty and population size were not predictive of crime
