Jessica R. Dunham, M.S.

 Due this week:  Read Chapter 6  Quiz  Discussion board  Future Work  2 Projects Left: Units 8 & 9  :) Announcements

 Biological & Psychological factors do impact criminality  Heredity plays a role  Intelligence plays a role  Factors mediated/mitigated by the environment  Biosocial Theory: genetics & environment  Psychological Trait Theories  Social Learning Unit 6 Review – Questions?

Social Structure & Crime  This week your reading will assess elements of social structure and how they relate to possible crime commission.  What are some elements of Social Structure that are potentially correlated to crime?  Think bigger picture/more general

Social Structure & Crime  Class/Income  Age  Race/Ethnicity  Power  Black (1979) expands on these ideas. (Seigal, 2010)

Black’s (1978) Behavior of Law  What are his Key Aspects of Social Life?

Black’s (1978) Behavior of Law  Key Aspects of Social Life:  Stratification  Morphology  Culture  Organization  Social Control

Black’s (1978) Behavior of Law  Key Aspects of Social Life:  Stratification  Vertical aspect of social life; vertical distance btwn people  Morphology  Horizontal aspect of social life; distribution of people in relation to each other  Culture  Symbolic aspect of life; Religion, decoration, folklore  Organization  Capacity for collective action  Social Control  Normative aspect of social life

Social Structure Theory  Suggests that social/economic factors lead to criminal behavior  Not individual traits

Branches of Social Structure Theory Social Disorganization Strain Theory CRIME Cultural Deviance Theory

Social Disorganization Theory What are factors leading to crime according to this theory?

Social Disorganization Theory 1.Deteriorated neighborhoods 2.Inadequate social control 3.Law-violating gangs and groups 4.Conflicting social values

Social Disorganization Theory 1.Deteriorated neighborhoods 2.Inadequate social control 3.Law-violating gangs and groups 4.Conflicting social values Urban Environmental Conditions CRIME

Cultural Deviance Theory What are factors leading to crime according to this theory?

Cultural Deviance Theory 1.Subculture development due to disorganization/ stress 2.Subcultural values vs. conventional values

Cultural Deviance Theory 1.Subculture development due to disorganization/ stress 2.Subcultural values vs. conventional values Conformity to Subcultural Values CRIME

STRAIN THEORY

Strain Theory Conflict between individual goals and means to achieve those goals.

Strain Theory 1.Unequal dist. of wealth & power 2.Frustration 3.Alternative Methods of Achievement

Strain Theory 1.Unequal dist. of wealth & power 2.Frustration 3.Alternative Methods of Achievement Lack of Conventional Means Frustration Anger Resentment CRIME

Strain Theories  General Strain Theory  Anomie Theory

General Strain Theory  Developed by Robert Agnew  Micro-level theory  Lack of coping is key and leads to crime Failure to achieve goals Expectations ≠ Achievements Removal of pos. stimuli Presentation of neg. stimuli Sources of Strain

General Strain Theory  Developed by Robert Agnew  Micro-level theory  Lack of coping key Failure to achieve goals Expectations ≠ Achievements Removal of pos. stimuli Presentation of neg. stimuli Sources of Strain Negative Affective States Anger Frustration Disappointment Depression Fear

General Strain Theory  Developed by Robert Agnew  Micro-level theory  Lack of coping key Failure to achieve goals Expectations ≠ Achievements Removal of pos. stimuli Presentation of neg. stimuli Sources of Strain Criminality Drug Abuse Delinquency Dropping Out Violence Negative Affective States Anger Frustration Disappointment Depression Fear

Merton’s Anomie Theory  Cultural goals and social acceptable means interact to yield potentially anomic conditions.  What are our cultural goals?  What are socially acceptable means for achievement of those goals?

Merton’s Anomie Theory  Cultural goals and social acceptable means interact to yield potentially anomic conditions.  What are our cultural goals?  WEALTH, SUCCESS, POWER  What are socially acceptable means for achievement of those goals?  HARD WORK, EDUCATION, THRIFT

Merton’s Anomie Theory CULTURAL GOALS ADAPTATIONS Conformity Ritualism Innovation Retreatism Rebellion Conventional Means INSTITUTIONALIZED MEANS CRIME Alternative Means

MODES OF CULTURAL INSTITUTIONALIZED ADAPTATION GOALS MEANS 1. Conformity Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion +/- +/-

Basic Components of Strain Theory Poverty Maintenance of conventional rules and norms rules and norms Strain Formation of gangs and groups Crime and delinquency CriminalCareers

Crime & The American Dream  What do Messner & Rosenfeld add to Merton’s Theory of Anomie?

Crime & The American Dream  What do Messner & Rosenfeld add to Merton’s Theory of Anomie?  Institutional Anomie  Anti-social behavior results from both cultural and institutional influences  SUCCESS = ??????

Crime & The American Dream  What do Messner & Rosenfeld add to Meron’s Theory of Anomie?  Institutional Anomie  Anti-social behavior results from both cultural and institutional influences  SUCCESS = AMERICAN DREAM

Crime & The American Dream  What do Messner & Rosenfeld add to Meron’s Theory of Anomie?  Institutional Anomie  Anti-social behavior results from both cultural and institutional influences  SUCCESS = AMERICAN DREAM  What does the American Dream Entail?

The American Dream  Material Goods Attainment  Wealth Attainment  Through the use of Individual Competition

The American Dream  Material Goods Attainment  Wealth Attainment  Through the use of Individual Competition  THUS, AMERICAN DREAM = both a GOAL & a PROCESS

The American Dream  Material Goods Attainment  Wealth Attainment  Through the use of Individual Competition  THUS, AMERICAN DREAM = both a GOAL & a PROCESS How is it both a Goal and a Process?

Crime & The American Dream  Anomic conditions develop because:  Desire for success yields division  Sense of community is weakened  Desire for material wealth = highest goal

Crime & The American Dream  Anomic conditions develop because:  Desire for success yields division  Sense of community is weakened  Desire for material wealth = highest goal ANOMIC CONDITIONS ANYTHING GOES MENTALITY

Crime & The American Dream How does this lead to CRIME & DEVIANCE? ANOMIC CONDITIONS ANYTHING GOES MENTALITY

Crime & The American Dream  Capitalistic Culture  Extreme Pressure to gain economic success  antisocial means  Thus, institutionalized social controls fail to have an effect on behavior  Non-economic roles and functions are not valued  If a role conflict exists, economic roles/functions supersede  Economic terms/ideas have penetrated other non-economic realms of life

Crime & The American Dream  Does the idea of the AMERICAN DREAM leading to crime impact society differently across stratifications?  RACE/ETHNICITY  CLASS/INCOME  GENDER  POWER

Crime & The American Dream  Do you agree with Messner & Rosenfeld?  How can we change this?

 Apply social theories to gang violence.  Identify the main elements of all the listed theories  Social Disorganization Theory  Strain Theory  Cultural Deviance  Differential Association  Techniques of Neutralization  Social Bond Theory  Social Reaction Theory  Compare and contrast the social structure and the social process theories  From these theories, select and discuss 5 elements/factors that may help to explain what causes gang violence.

 6-8 pages (inclusive of cover page/reference page)  Double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman Font  Include cover page & reference list  Cite your sources; Use in-text citations  Use at least 2 non-textbook sources :)  The final submitted document should be titled: YourLastname_Project8.doc  Due March 1, 2011 by 11:59pm ET

GREAT DISCUSSION! QUESTIONS?