Theories of Crime and Place

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Questions and Answers

What does the Broken Window Theory suggest about the relationship between disorder and crime?

Disorder and crime are unrelated.

Disorder can lead to increased crime if it is not addressed. (correct)

Crime increases when windows are fixed.

There is no evidence supporting a link between disorder and crime.

Which of the following is a strength of the Broken Window Theory?

It encourages tolerance towards petty crimes.

It effectively explains the fear of crime in neighborhoods. (correct)

It minimizes collective efficacy in communities.

It promotes isolation among community members.

What is an implication of the Chicago School's focus on crime and delinquency?

Crime rates were observed to decrease immediately.

Criminology was recognized as a legitimate field of study. (correct)

Solutions were developed purely from a macro perspective.

It disregards immigration's impact on crime.

What does the term 'Ecological Fallacy' refer to in the context of human ecology?

Assuming individual traits are reflective of broader community traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant weakness of the Broken Window Theory?

It can lead to increased racial profiling. Signup and view all the answers

What is the premise of human ecology as proposed by Park & Burgess?

Cities operate like organisms impacting residential life. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Zone 2 in the Concentric Zone model?

Abandoned buildings and high crime Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the three predictors of crime according to Social Disorganization Theory?

High levels of education Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Chicago Area Project?

Recreation and improving neighborhood environments for delinquents Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a major finding of Shaw & McKay in their research on delinquency?

Delinquency distribution remains stable despite population changes Signup and view all the answers

How does Social Disorganization Theory explain the persistence of delinquency in certain neighborhoods?

Due to weakened institutions and shared value systems Signup and view all the answers

What did Kornhauser claim about Social Disorganization Theory in 1978?

Cultural mechanisms were insufficient and unnecessary to understand crime Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of social control is emphasized as creating a value system that contributes to delinquency?

Informal social control and weakened institutions Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism of Social Disorganization Theory?

It assumes all youth in disorganized areas commit crime Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wilson & Kelling and Broken Window Theory

Broken Window Theory posits that visible signs of disorder lead to increased crime; broken windows lead to more broken windows.
Disorderly behavior results in community decline and degradation.
Zimbardo's 1969 experiment tested this theory using abandoned cars in California and New York, observing that neglect attracts further vandalism.

Strengths of the Broken Window Theory

Effective implementation fosters community policing and engages residents positively.
Illuminates public fear of crime, emphasizing the perception of disorder.
Easy to address disorder may enhance community collective efficacy, promoting neighborly intervention.

Weaknesses of the Broken Window Theory

Can lead to zero tolerance policing, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations through discriminatory practices.
Heavy focus on minor offenses may distract police from more serious crime issues.
Current emphasis is shifting towards reducing misdemeanor arrests rather than increasing enforcement.

The Chicago School and Urban Crime Dynamics

Immigration heavily influenced Chicago's demographic, with 70% of the population being foreign-born during a crime spike.
The University of Chicago shifted criminology from an ancillary field to a primary focus, seeking solutions to urban crime.

Park & Burgess Contributions

Introduced Human Ecology, exploring the interaction between humans and their urban environments.
Proposed that the city functions like an organism, impacting residential life and social structures.
Concentric Zone Model identifies five zones, with Zone 2 facing the highest crime rates due to deteriorating conditions.

Found stability in delinquency rates regardless of population changes, indicating crime is tied to specific locations.
Identified correlations between delinquency, poverty, and educational disadvantages; crime rates escalate closer to city centers.
Key predictors: poverty, high residential mobility, and ethnic diversity within neighborhoods.

Social disorganization manifests in areas marked by poverty and rapid social changes, leading to weakened conventional institutions.
Informal social control diminishes, creating a subculture of delinquency that persists across generations.

Well-supported by research highlighting the influence of neighborhoods on crime rates.
The theory spurred initiatives targeting delinquency reduction in troubled neighborhoods.

Lacks precise measurement for social disorganization effects on crime.
Fails to explain why many youths in disorganized areas do not partake in criminal activities.
Incorporates the ecological fallacy, mistakenly linking macro-level observations to individual micro-level behavior.

Chicago Area Project (Intervention for Delinquents)

Established intervention centers in Chicago's highest crime districts.
Focused on recreation, environmental improvements, and support for delinquents.

Kornhauser's 1978 Reevaluation of SDT

Revived SDT by arguing that cultural mechanisms alone cannot adequately explain crime behavior.

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Description

Explore the relationship between disorder and crime through the lens of Broken Window Theory by Wilson & Kelling. This quiz delves into the implications of community policing and the social dynamics that influence crime perception. Test your knowledge on experiments, strengths, and societal impacts.