Sociological Theories Of Crime Causation Flashcards
These theories view that the disadvantaged economic condition of the people is the primary cause of crime
Social Structure Theories
This theory focuses on the conditions within the urban environment that affect crime rates. Under this proposition, crime rates are linked to neighborhood ecological characteristics. It views crime-ridden neighborhoods as those in which residents are uninterested in community matters, therefore, the common sourous of control-family, school, church-are woak and disorganizes. Sometimes, this is called differential social organization, This theory was popularized by two Chicago sociologists, Henry D. Mckay and Clifford R. Shaw. They contended that criminals are not biologically inferior, intellectually impaired, or psychologically damaged. To them, neighborhood denigration and slum conditions are the primary causes of criminal behavior
Social Disorganization Theory
The works of Shaw and Mckay was greatly influenced by the researches on sociological positivism begun by Robert Ezra Park (1864- 1944), Ernest W. Burgess (1886-1966), Louis Wirth (1897-1952) of the Sociology Department of the University of Chicago. Shaw and Mckay focused on the functions of social institutions, such as the school and the family, and how their breakdown influenced deviant and anti-social behavior.
Chicago school.
In Europe, the writings of Karl Marx (1818-1883) together with Friedrich Engels gained popularity which pushed social interaction to a different direction. Marx argued that the capitalist system would eventually result to a class conflict between the capitalist bourgeoisie and the people who do the actual labor, the proletariat. Although, Marx did not develop a theory of crime, his writings were applied to criminology by Willem Bonger, Ralf Dahrendorf, and George Vold
Conflict Criminology
This can be traced to Emile Durkheim’s concept of anomie. To him, in an anomic society, the rules of behavior have broken down by reason of rapid social change or social crisis like war and famine. Meanwhile, although Robert Merton adopted the concept of anomie, he deviated from Durkheim’s rapid social change or social crisis as the cause of anomie. Merton argues that crime is a function of the conflict between the goals people have and the means they can use to legally obtain them. Accordingly, the ability to obtain goals is class dependent, which means that members of the lower class are unable to achieve those goals which come easy to those belonging to the upper class. The result of the lower-class frustration, anger, and resentment is referred to as strain.
Strain Theory
Combines elements of both strain and social disorganization theories. This argues that in order to cope with social isolation and economic deprivation, members of the lower class create an independent subculture with its own set of rules and values. The sub-culture of the lower class is an attractive alternative because they find it impossible to meet the behavioral demands of the middle-class society. The idea that the lower class develops a sub-culture by reason of strain can be traced to the work of Thorsten Sellin, who, in 1938 published the book Culture Conflict and Crime. Later, Walter Miller in his classic paper, “Lower Class Culture as a General Milieu of Gang Delinquency,” discovered that clinging to lower class value system promotes illegal or violent behavior. In 1955, Albert Cohen in his book, “Delinquent Boys” theorized that because social conditions make them incapable of achieving success legitimately, lower class youths experience a form of culture conflict which he called status frustration.
Cultural Deviance Theory
These view that criminality is a function of people’s interest with various organizations, institutions, and processes in the society
Social Process Theory
This theory believes that crime is a product of learning the norms, values and behaviors associated with criminal activity. It is viewed under this concept that human behavior is modeled through observation of human social interactions. Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904), the forerunner of modern-day learning theories, conceptualized the theory of imitation, which states that people learn from one another through the process of imitation
Social Learning Theory
Individuals may teach others to engage in crime through the reinforcements and punishments they provide for behavior. Crime is more likely to occur when it (a) in frequently reinforced and infrequently punished; (b) results in large amounts of reinforcement (e.g., a lot of money, social approval, or pleasure) and little punishment; and (c) is more likely to be reinforced than alternative behaviors.
Differential reinforcement of crime
It argues that people obey the law because behavior and passions are being controlled by internal and external forces. Conversely, some people have self-control, manifested through a strong moral sense, which renders them incapable of hurting others and violating social norms. People’s behavior, including criminal activity, is controlled by their attachment and commitment to conventional institutions, individuals, and processes. Absent that commitment, they are likely to engage in deviant behavior.
Social control theory
Strong self-image insulates the youth from the pressures and pulls if criminogenic influence in the environment
Containment Theory
It is also called social control theory
Social Bond Theory
In 1969, Travis Hirschi presented in his book “Causes of Delinquency” the social bond theory-linking the onset of criminality to the weakening of ties that bind people in society
Social Bond Theory
This theory, which is also called labeling theory, holds that people enter into law-violating careers when they are labeled for their acts and the individuals so labeled come to see themselves as criminals.
Social Reaction Theory
Other Sociological Causes of Crime
• Lack of Parental Guidance
• Broken Homes and Family
• Injuring Status of Neighborhood
• Bad association with Criminal Groups
• Lack of Recreational Facilities for Proper use of Leisure Time
• Lack of Employment
