CRIM 300W Chapter : Week 8 Textbook - Social Structures.docx
Document Summary
Early social structure and strain theories of crime. Social structure theories disregard any biological or psychological variations across individuals. Certain groups of individuals are more likely to break the law because of disadvantaged or cultural difference resulting from the way society is structured. Emphasize group differences instead f individual differences: macro level analysis, commonly used to explain the propensity of certain racial/ethnic groups for committing a crime and overrepresentation in prison. Early theories of social structure: early to mid 1800s. European researchers: auguste comte, andre-michel guerry, adolphe quetelet. Rejects tyranny and insisted people should have a voice in how they are governed. Andre-michel guerry and adolphe quetelet: guerry. Found that property crimes were higher in wealthy areas while violent crimes was higher in poor areas. Wealthy had more time to steal: quetelet. Certain types of individuals are more likely to commit crimes: young, male, poor, uneducated, unemployed individuals.