CRIM 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Social Capital, Concentric Zone Model, Travis Hirschi
Lecture 8: Sociological Approaches
**
● Sociological approaches have been/continue to be the most prevalent and widely accepted of all
criminological theories
● Between 60-75% of theorizing about crime and delinquency can be attributed to the field of
sociology alone
● Even the majority of prominent thinkers in feminist and critical criminology come from a
sociological background
Sociology & Criminology
● The elatioship etee soiolog ad iiolog a e taed ak to Eile Dukhei the
founder of aadei soiolog i Fae i late s
● The relationship between sociology and criminology can also be traced back to the sociology
depatet at the Uiesit of Chiago, ofte efeed to as Chiago “hool
● Dukhei as the oigiato of aoie theo ad soial otol theo; the Chiago “hool
gave rise to social disorganization theory, differential association theory, the sociology of
deiae, ad the laellig theo
● All of these theories are still in wide use today
Eile Durkhei’s Contributions
● Cotiuted to the osesus pespetie i soiolog ad iiolog, to hat is o ko
as stutual futioalis, ad to the otio that soiet euie oth itegatio ad
egulatio soial otol i ode to e effetie o ohesie
● Know for his work on anomie, describes as state of lawlessness, normlessness, or unrestrained
ambition
● A state of aoie ould aise he the foes of itegatio soial ods ad olletie eliefs
ad the foes of egulatio las ad istitutios were out of balance, and not functioning
properly as a consequence
Crie as Noral
● Biological explanations examine inherited biogenetic deficits/ abnormalities that are thought to
predispose certain individuals to engage in criminal or deviant behaviour
● Pshologial eplaatios eaie idiidual diffeees i pesoalit, eo, peeptio,
learning, and cognition and how differences can lead to abnormal behaviour or character
disorders
● Sociological explanations view crime and deviance as normal or semi-normal, as a
socially/culturally learned responses to social circumstances
Sociological Research Questions
● Psychologists and biologists might ask why certain individuals behave in a criminal or abnormal
manner and search for clues in their genetic make up
● Sociologists might ask:
○ Why do some societies deem marijuana use, prostitution or polygamy to abnormal or
criminal while other do not
○ Why are members of certain social class more likely to be criminalized than members of
other social classes?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
● Sociologists would be inclined to search for the answers in the social structure, social institutions,
social roles, and social norms
The Jukes
● Study by Richard Dugdale
● Dugdale had limited schooling, became assistant sculptor, tried running manufacturing business,
had nervous breakdown, became sociologist
● Dugdale observed young man (apparently feeble minded) on trial court
● Dugdale went back through generations, found petty thieves, a murder, another who broke ear
trumpet
● Argued that entire family had criminal tendencies due to feeble-mindedness
● Most eidee ae eaggeated
Social Structure and Anomie
● Merton's 1938 paper on social structure and anomie is a good example of a theory of crime that
is premised upon social disadvantage and social structure
● Merton used term "anomie" to describe social strain that occurred in American society, when
people were unable to attain the cultural goals of success and wealth because institutional means
eet aailale
● Meto as saig that Aeia soiet as riminogenic": the way of society was structured
to cause crime
Merto’s Aoie-Strain Theory
● Used Dukheis oept of aoie to eplai high ie ates i Aeia “oiet
● Argued that a dysfunction-a disjunction or disbalance- existed between the cultural goals of
American society and access to institutional means through which to achieve those cultural goals
● This dysfunction created a sense of anomie or strain-Americans believed that they were supposed
to pursue the cultural goals, but felt that their opportunity to do was blocked by the lack of
istitutioal eas also ko as loked oppotuities
Criticisms:
● Early version criticized for putting too much emphasis on the type of strain
experienced primarily by lower classes
● Critics said theory failed to offer an adequate explanation for white collar and
corporate crimes committed by the upper classes, and for delinquent acts
committed by middle and upper class teens
Merto’s Fie Modes of Adaptatio
Mode of Adaptation
Cultural Goals
Institutional Means
Criminal?
Conformity
+ (Accepts)
+ (Accepts)
No
Innovation (finding
different ways to
achieve goals on
society)
+ (Accepts)
- (Rejects)
Yes
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Ritualism (given up
on social
advancements/ on
becoming wealthy)
- (Rejects)
+ (Accepts)
No
Retreatism (might
drop out of society to
become alcoholic,
drug users, or street
people. Might belong
to deviant
subculture)
- (Rejects)
- (Rejects)
Yes
Rebellion (might be
charged with
terrorism, acting on a
higher purpose.
Crimes viewed as
different from
traditional crimes)
± (Rejects, tries to
replace)
± (Rejects-tries to
replace
Yes
General Strain Theory (GST)
● Ages theo as iteded to addess soe of the itiis lleeled agaist oigial aoie-
strain theorists
● GST represents a combination of soiologial theo Dukheis aoie theo ad Metos
anomie-strain theory) and psychological theory (differences in personality, negative affect,
frustration-aggression hypothesis, and coping and behavioural coping mechanisms)
● As suh, Ages G“T is part of a newer trend toward theoretical integration
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com