Assignment 6 PDF

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Chapter 6 Assignment

1. Explain the three branches of the social structure perspective. Social structure theories hypothesize that, from a socioeconomic standpoint, the lower class is more likely to commit crimes. Research has found that poverty-ridden areas have higher crime rates that typically consist of violent crimes rather than non-violent crimes. Social structure theorists do not believe that criminality is an acquired personal trait, but rather a response from the environment’s influence. For instance, “because crime rates are higher in poor urban centers than in middle-class suburbs, social forces must be operating in these blighted inner-city areas that influence or control behavior” (Siegel, 2013, pg. 187). In addition, there are three branches to this perspective that correlate with one another in order to explain why this occurs: social disorganization theory, strain theory, and cultural deviance theory. The social disorganization theory suggests that the area where a person resides is a crucial factor in how it impacts the likelihood of someone committing a crime. Neighborhoods, school systems, and family play a major role in how social control, such as norms and values, are disorganized. Areas where there is high unemployment, low income, and increased school drop out rates, people tend to struggle more and look for ways to alleviate their issues by resorting to crime because they cannot afford to do so any other way. Strain theory comes into play here. When a person, speaking in terms of the lower class, is not able to obtain rewards through success while abiding by the law, it creates strain such as aggression and indignation that leads to committing criminal acts in order to acquire rewards. The cultural deviance theory is a combination of both the strain theory and the social disorganization theory in that the breakdown of social control leads to emotions like anger and causes people to go against social norms, to commit criminal acts. 2. Discuss the work of Shaw and McKay focusing upon transitional neighborhoods and concentric zones. Research and studies conducted in Chicago, by Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D. McKay, supported the social disorganization theory. Ecological factors affect crime rates, which was seen in the city of Chicago after an influx of immigrants and rural southerners entered the city and resided in old homes. A split in social class emerged and it was thought that the non-affluent lacked the same morals as the wealthy and were subject to criminality. Shaw and McKay’s main interest was the the correlation between the urban area and ecological characteristics. When immigrants began moving in to cities they typically moved into transitional neighborhoods. Cheaper rent and house payments lead to poorer people, mostly immigrants, settling in areas that were essentially middle-class neighborhoods. Differing values and norms broke social control in these neighborhoods and lead to more criminal activity. Criminal behavior then began to increase because children were being influenced by a non traditional culture and disorganization. In order to show the crime distributions in particular areas, Shaw and McKay used mapping as a source for identifying areas. These areas were labeled concentric zones. Areas with the highest crime rates were found to be in the inner city, while the areas with the least crime rates were the furthest away from the city. After analyzing this data, it was found that “…in the transitional neighborhoods, multiple cultures and diverse values, both conventional and deviant,

coexist” (Siegiel, 2013, pg. 189). The impact of this diversity is that youth look at the success of adults in their neighborhoods and favor the deviant lifestyle, rather than the conventional lifestyle, in order to obtain their success. 3. Discuss Merton’s strain theory. Include the concept of “anomie” and typology of adaptation in your response. The deterioration of society’s mechanical solidarity making a shift towards developing into organic solidarity is the basis of Durkheim’s view of an anomic society. Traditions and values have no impact on society due to postindustrial dependence. The shift induces strain and creates disorganization, which makes it difficult to keep social control. “If a society becomes anomic, it can no longer establish and maintain control over its population’s wants and desires” (Siegel, 2013, pg. 197). Robert Merton, a sociologist, based his beliefs off of anomie and saw its relevance in criminology. Merton’s theory suggests that two factors, culturally defined goals and socially approved goals, are associated with one another and lead to anomie. In today’s developing society, success is important. However, those who are uneducated and are of the lower class are not able to achieve their goals as easily, if at all. The less opportunistic may resort to ways of acquiring wealth or success by unconventional, criminal, means. Regarding this, Merton takes into consideration that everyone has different goals and different ways of obtaining them. According to him, people socially adapt either by conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, or rebellion. Conformity is the reason that society functions. People seek opportunity through education and career and strive for conventional, not deviant, goals. Similarly, adaptation through ritualism involves well educated persons, but they refuse to accept the goals of society; they do not endeavor to ambition. However, individuals with innovation accept societal goals, but they are not able to acquire it financially. These type of individuals innovate and look to criminal behavior like stealing and extortion. Those who do not accept the goals and the means of society adapt through retreatism. They are mentally or physically incapable because they cannot acquire success. The final adaptation is rebellion. This type of individual rebels against the goals and beliefs of a particular group and substitutes their means for more conventional ones in order to gain more opportunity. 4. Discuss the sources of strain according to general strain theory and provide an example of each. Building off of Merton’s theory of anomie, Robert Agnew believes that there are other factors that contribute to criminality other than societal goals and means of opportunity. He suggests that strain, on an individual level, is produced by negative experiences. This is not limited to only the lower class. Everyone who experiences stress is more susceptible to committing a crime. However, because the lower class is found to have higher crime rates it can be conjectured that poorer people experience more stress that triggers emotions like aggression or depression. According to Agnew, stressful situations have several sources of strain like social sources of strain, adolescent sources of strain, and community sources of strain. Sources of strain are caused by negative relationships through negative experiences. For instance, interactions in one’s peer group may cause strain because of trying to keep up with the desires of the group. Friend groups have an influence on a person and when they participate in criminal behavior, everyone in the group is likely to participate; stress is likely to occur from participation as well. Another source of strain consists of many factors in adolescence. This is the period in one’s life were hormones are elevated, peer groups are pressuring, and youth are not

under as much supervision. Familial relationships and friendships are also often strained because of issues within that group, whether it be because of divorce or because of fitting in. Strain, in turn, leads to coping mechanisms like drug or alcohol abuse. While strain is caused from personal relationships, it also results from ecological factors from the community. Values, norms, and goals are set in different areas and the ability to attain them are different for each person. Those who struggle will experience strain and they may innovate and find a different route to achieve their goals.

References Siegel, L. (2013). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies (12th ed.). Cengage Learning....