Social disorganization theory specifies that several variables—
residential instability, ethnic diversity, family disruption, economic status, population size or density, and proximity to urban areas
—influence a community’s capacity to develop and maintain strong systems of social relationships.
Measures of three central theoretical elements in Shaw and McKay’s social disorganization perspective (
poverty, residential mobility, and racial heterogeneity
) and variables from the subculture of violence, social control, and opportunity perspectives are included in this research.
Social disorganization is a
theoretical perspective that explains ecological differences in levels of crime based on structural and cultural factors shaping the nature of the social order across communities
.
Explains the relationship between social disorder and deviance
. This is a macro-level theory that tries to explain why certain neighborhoods control deviance and why others are unable to minimize or eliminate it .
For example,
a tenant in a public housing unit may live there for years and never form a relationship with his or her neighbors
. Residents who do not know the children of the area were less likely to intervene when the children displayed unacceptable behavior.
Social disorganization theory has played a
central role in illuminating the neighborhood structures and processes that influence crime and disorder
. It has also informed community crime prevention programs and initiatives concerned with the social organization of urban neighborhoods.
The main characteristics of social disorganisation are the following: (i)
Conflict of Mores and of Institutions
: As we have studied earlier every society has its mores and institutions which regulate the life of its members. With the passage of time, these mores and institution become obsolete.
What is Durkheim’s theory?
Durkheim believed that
society exerted a powerful force on individuals
. People’s norms, beliefs, and values make up a collective consciousness, or a shared way of understanding and behaving in the world. The collective consciousness binds individuals together and creates social integration.
Answered one of the main criticisms of Social Disorganization theory concerning structural factors impact on social control within a neighborhood. Biggest contribution was
in reformulating social control aspect of neighborhoods into three different types of social control that are affected by structural factors
.
What do all social structure theories have in common? –
Emphasizes relationships among social institutions
. … -Relationship between human beings and the physical and cultural environments in which they live.
Sorokin is of the opinion that disorganization is mainly due to
cultural degeneration of values in various spheres such as art, science, philosophy, religion, law and politics
. Hence a gap or a lag arises between the material and non-material culture. …
Social disorganization theory is one of the most enduring place-based theories of crime. Developed by
Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay
, this theory shifted criminological scholarship from a focus on the pathology of people to the pathology of places.
Which of the following are common criticisms of social disorganization theory?
It fails to account for troubled neighborhoods that have strong, viable organizations
. It seems to blame the victims.
Examples of Social Control Theory
Social control theory is based upon typical, everyday activities. For instance, think
about your daily routine of getting up in the morning and going to work every day
. This is an example of an action that is done in accordance with internal social control, or self-control.
Examples of formal social control include
the government
. The government uses laws and courts to exercise social control. The government tries to protect those following the rules and capture and punish those who do not. Governmental social control goes beyond the legal system.
What is disorganized society?
:
a state of society characterized by the breakdown of effective social control resulting in
a lack of functional integration between groups, conflicting social attitudes, and personal maladjustment.
