Macro Level Theories of Delinquency

Macro Level Theories of Delinquency

• Places and environments significantly influence delinquency rates, necessitating a macro perspective to understand youth criminal behavior.
• Social structural theories view delinquency as affected by societal organization and environmental factors, with a focus on large-scale social changes.

Anomie Theory

• Emile Durkheim described society as built on a loose consensus, with shared moral values, yet suffering from a fragmented division of labor.
• Anomie refers to a state of normlessness in society, leading to increased rates of deviance.

Merton’s Strain Theory

• Robert Merton posited that unregulated societal desires contribute to rule-breaking behavior.
• Material wealth is a primary goal, with unequal access to means of achieving this goal driving individuals to commit delinquent acts.
• Adaptation to strain includes five methods: Innovation (pursuing new means to goals), Ritualism (abandoning goals but sticking to means), Retreatism (rejecting both means and goals), Rebellion (overthrowing the system), and Conformity (accepting both means and goals).

Differential Opportunity Theory

• Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin expanded on Merton's ideas, emphasizing that unequal access to both legitimate and illegitimate means leads to different subcultures.
• Criminal and delinquent subcultures emerge when youth face limited opportunities for success.

Subcultural Theory of Delinquency

• Albert Cohen’s theory, influenced by Merton, suggests that strain stems from failure to achieve societal success.
• Subcultural responses work as coping mechanisms rather than achieving tangible societal objectives.

Anomie, Class, Race, Gender, & Place

• Anomie and strain theories consider socioeconomic factors, highlighting privilege and disadvantage's role in shaping experiences of strain.
• Research shows varying impacts of race and gender on delinquency, emphasizing the need for nuanced understanding.

Social Disorganization Theory

• This theory gained prominence from the 1920s to the 1940s and again in the late 20th century, emphasizing cyclical patterns of social organization and disorganization.
• Changes in neighborhood demographics can lead to increased social disorganization, affecting community behavior and crime rates.

Concentric Zone Model

• Developed by Shaw and McKay, the model illustrates zones within cities related to delinquency rates, showing higher crime rates in inner-city areas.
• Delinquency is inversely related to distance from the city center, suggesting that living in disorganized neighborhoods correlates with higher delinquency.

Sampson & Groves’ Model

• Sampson and Groves’ influential study in the 1980s examined how social disorganization affected delinquency, concluding that lack of community ties and social support increased delinquent behavior.

This quiz delves into macro level theories regarding delinquency, particularly focusing on how social and environmental factors, as outlined by traditional sociological theories, contribute to delinquent behavior. It examines concepts like social structure and anomie, aiming to provide clarity on the broader influences at play in urban settings like Baltimore, MD.