CRIM 2650 Lecture Notes - Social Disorganization Theory, Broken Windows Theory, Conceptual Metaphor
Document Summary
Social structure theory (durkheim"s theory of punishment is an example of social structure) Challenges the notion that crime is an expression of psychological or biological traits argue that crime is an expression of a particular social structure. People living in the same environment behave in a similar and predictable manner. Strain theory people with the same anomie have the same goals for example. Similarly to social structure, people behave similar behaviours who live in the same environment. Social disorganization theory a community becomes disorganized when there"s a breakdown in the institutions of social control. These institutions can no longer carry out their expected function which is to restrain people from committing criminal behaviours. Criminologists use indicators that signal a breakdown in those institutions. Income level, high employment rates, high rates of school drop outs, actual physical characteristics of the neighborhood (deteriorated housing), and the number of single parent households.
