2. Sociological Theory of Criminal
Behaviour
This theory pre-supposes that criminals are a product
of society.
The impact of sociological factors is so great on
persons depending on their environment and
immediate social conditions.
3. Causes of Crime & Theories
Criminology is the study of crime & the causes of criminal
behavior.
Criminologists are always trying to answer the question:
Why do people commit crime?
They use correlation & causation help answer that
question.
Correlation: when 2 variables seem to work together.
Causation: one variable is responsible for change in the
other.
4. We know that crime rates & the sale of snowballs go up
in the summer time.
Is there a correlation between the two? A correlation
would mean that every time the crime rate went up,
snowball sales would go up & vice versa.
Is there causation? Does that sale of snowballs cause crime
rates to go up in the summer? Or does the crime rate go up
because snowballs are on sale?
The problem is that it is very difficult to predict violent
behavior & the source of that violent behavior.
5. Sociological Theories of Crime
Sociology: the study of societies & social aspects of cultures
& people.
These theories focus on social & physical environmental
factors in their study of criminal behavior.
The Chicago School developed the following theories
Social Disorganization Theory
Strain Theory
Cultural Deviance Theory
7. The Chicago School
Chicago School gathered empirical evidence from the
slums of the city.
Empirical = info. gained by means of observation &
experimentation
Correlation between conditions of poverty & high rates
of crime.
Conditions of poverty include inadequate housing & lack of
economic opportunities, failing school systems.
Neighborhood conditions greater determinant effect than
ethnicity, race, or religion.
8. Social Disorganization Theory
The community is disorganized which leads to
antisocial behavior & criminal activity.
Breakdown in the social controls of the community.
Elevated levels of high school dropouts, unemployment,
deteriorating infrastructures, single parent families, drug
abuse, etc.
Found mostly in inner-city areas.
9. The Social Disorganization
Model
Poverty
Residential
Mobility
Ethnic
Heterogeneity
Social
Disorganization Crime
Criminal
Subculture
11. Social Disorganization Theory:
Concentric Zone Theory
MAJOR PREMISE
Crime is a product of
transitional neighborhoods
that manifest
social disorganization
and value conflict.
STRENGTHS
Identifies why crime rates
are highest in slum areas.
Points out the factors
that
produce crime. Suggests
programs to help
reduce crime.
12. Factors That Affect Crime
The Social Ecology School
Transitional neighborhoods
Community deterioration
Poverty concentration
Employment opportunities
Community fear, i.e., race, gangs, mistrust.
Community change
13. What exactly is social
disorganization?
Social disorganization:
Sparse local networks, weak social ties
Low organizational participation
Lack of trust among neighbors
Result:
Inability to solve problems and pursue goals
Parents less able to socialize and control youth
Breakdown in surveillance
14. CRITICISMS
There have been several persistent criticisms of the
theory.
The ecological fallacy.
The theory also does not explain how certain groups,
such as Asians and Jewish communities, maintained
low levels of crime and delinquency even though
they lived in areas that might be categorized as socially
disorganized.
15. Question
According to social disorganization theory,
how does fear
affect a ‘disorganized’ neighborhood?
