Sociological Theories: Social Structure PDF

Sociological Theories: Social Structure: It’s How/Where We Live  The Scope of Sociological Theories n Examine institutional arrangements within society (social structure) and the interaction among social institutions, individuals, and groups (social processes) as th...

Sociological Theories: Social Structure: It’s How/Where We Live  The Scope of Sociological Theories n Examine institutional arrangements within society (social structure) and the interaction among social institutions, individuals, and groups (social processes) as they affect socialization and have an impact on social behavior (social life) n Have a macro (i.e., “big picture”) perspective Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 2  Types of Social Structure Theories n Social disorganization theory (ecological approach: Good v. Bad n’hood) n Strain theory (Merton) n Culture conflict theory (cultural deviance theory) Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 3  Concentric Zones Fig. 5-1: Concentric zones diagram Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 4  Shaw and McKay n Applied concentric zone model to study of delinquency n Found offending rates remained constant over time within zones of transition n Cultural transmission – delinquent traditions are transmitted through successive generations of the same zone Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 5  Social Ecology n Broken Windows n Poverty Concentration n Chronic Unemployment n Community Fear n Community Change n Lack of Collective Efficacy n Do we care for one another? Our ‘Hood? Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 6  Merton’s Strain Theory n Anomie – disjunction between legitimate goals, which everyone desires, and socially approved means to success, which are not equally available to all members of society n Crime is an alternative means to success n Strain increases as the gulf between goals and necessary means increases n Not everyone accepts the legitimacy of socially approved goals Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 7  Goals and Means Disjuncture Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 8 Gangster City $100,000,000/year Larry Hoover ($280,000,000 in 2023) Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 9  Relative Deprivation n Relative deprivation – the economic and social gap between rich and poor who live in close proximity n Having wealth “in your face” creates greater anger and frustration Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 10  Culture Conflict Theory (Sellin) n The root cause of crime found in different values about what is acceptable or proper behavior n Conduct norms n Expectations for human behavior within a social group n Acquired early in life through childhood socialization n Clash of norms between variously socialized groups results in crime n Primary: Honor killing n Secondary: Whites of West Virginia n Lower class culture v. dominant culture Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 11  Subcultural Theory n Subcultural theory: the contribution made by variously socialized cultural groups to the phenomenon of crime (e.g., street gangs, organized crime). n Subculture: A collection of values and preferences communicated to participants through a process of socialization 33 Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 12  Delinquent Subcultures n Criminal subcultures: criminal role models readily available (e.g., brother is gang member) n Conflict subcultures: status through violence (Hell’s Angels) n Retreatist subcultures: drug use and withdrawal from wider society (Hippies) Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 13  Violent Subcultures n Ferracuti and Wolfgang claimed violence is a learned form of adaptation to problematic life circumstances n Learning to be violent takes place within the context of a subculture emphasizing violence over other forms of adaptation n Violent subcultures expect and legitimize violence n Urban Survival Syndrome Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 14  The Code of the Street n Elijah Anderson n Contemporary street code stresses a hyper-inflated notion of manhood resting on the idea of respect Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 15  Policy Implications of Social Structure n Chicago Area Project: Eliminate Slums n Sesame Street and The Electric Company n Community Policing? n War on Poverty tried to reduce crime rates by redistributing wealth in American society: $10,000,000,000,000 later…. Criminology: A Brief Introduction © 2011 Pearson Higher Education, Frank J. Schmalleger Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved. 16