Week 2: Introduction to the Chicago School/Social Disorganization Theory Flashcards
When was sociology said to be developed and what did it focus on?
in the early 19th century, focused on developing universal explanations for the nature of society and for human behavior
What was the first school of sociology and what did it focus on?
it was located at the University of Chicago and was established in 1892, focused on a different kind of sociology; gathering primary data, looking at context-specific explanations not laws
What is ethnography research?
the study of people in their own environment through the use of methods such as observation and face-to-face interviewing
What is non-participant observation?
when the researcher remains separate to and mentally distant from the subject of the research, ex) medical students watching a surgery
What is participant observation?
emphasizes engagement with the researched within their natural setting
What is pragmatism?
emphasizing the value of understanding experience and action, and the value of problem-solving
What is formalism?
emphasizing the value of understanding the role of patterns of formal institutions, social roles, social structures in shaping social life
What was the city of Chicago like in the early 1900s?
3 of 4 residents were immigrants, fire and looting, political corruption, poverty, the Great Depression
What was the prior idea of organized crime and what did researchers hope to gain better understanding of?
the prior idea was that a criminal was born that way. However, researchers wanted to develop understandings of the role of social, economic factors, political factors, the state, etc. in the rise of organized crime
How did the social disorganization theory develop?
Chicagoan sociologists were interested in understanding how a city grows and develops and how this relates to crime, used the metaphor of a living organism
What zone of the concentric zone model has higher levels of crime?
zone 4, the zone of transition
Characteristics of zone 4 (the transitional zone) in the concentric zone model
diverse population, high population turnover, physical deterioration, poverty
Influence of Shaw and McKay (1942) Chicago Area Project (the social disorganization theory)
used data from these zones in Chicago to study how neighborhood characteristics and social conditions influence rates of juvenile offending (why is there a geographical concentration of crime in zone 4)
Key findings of the social disorganization theory
crime and delinquency are a product of the breakdown of social institutions and the weakening of social bonds within communities, efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency should focus on addressing the underlying social factors contributing to social disorganization, such as poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, and lack of social services
What was a modern application of the social disorganization theory?
research led by Robert Sampson at the University of Chicago, investigated individual and community factors shaping the lives of residents in Chicago neighborhoods, took account of structural factors (poverty, segregation, housing) and social processes (social networks), highlights the importance of investing in neighborhood resources to addressing crime, specifically addressing social inequality and strengthening social ties
