1. Social Structure Theory
SOCIAL FORCES NOT
INDIVIDUAL TRAITS CAUSE
CRIME

2. Social Structure Theory
The U.S. has a STRATIFIED society. A society based on SOCIAL STRATA created by an UNEQUAL distribution of WEALTH, POWER, & PRESTIGE.

3. Social Structure Theory
In the U.S. we identify: UPPER, MIDDLE & LOWER CLASS.

4. Social Structure Theory
Oscar Lewis (1966) Described a CULURE of POVERTY in U.S.

5. Culture of Poverty
Passed from one generation to the next. Apathy, cynicism & mistrust result.

6. Culture of Poverty
Children have a higher poverty rate compared to any other age group

7. Culture of Poverty
The number of U.S. children covered by health insurance is declining.

8. Culture of Poverty
Income of Latinos and African Americans is 2/3rds when compared to Whites.

9. Culture of Poverty
The jobless rate for African American males has steadily increased since The Incarceration rates for African American males has climbed since the 1990’s.

10. Poverty and Crime
Crime can be traced to SOCIOECONOMIC disadvantages. Many turn to crime because they feel they can not obtain wealth in conventional ways.

11. Questions
Is this situation aggravated by the MEDIAS focus on wealth?

12. Questions
Is our self image in the U.S. tied to material goods?

13. Questions
Do people take drugs to numb themselves because they are poor?

14. Social Structure Theory
Believe that a DISADVANTAGED ECONOMIC CLASS position is the primary cause of crime.

15. Social Structure Theory
Social Structure Theory has 3 overlapping branches. 1. Social Disorganization Theory 2. Strain Theory 3. Cultural Deviance Theory

16. Social Structure Theory
All 3 branches hold the CORE belief that SOCIAL ISOLATION and DISORGANIZED NEIGHBORHOODS produce crime.

17. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory Crime rates are elevated in a highly transient, changing neighborhood where residences and commercial property exist side by side.

18. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont.
People try to leave as soon as possible.
Results in:
1. Poor personal relationships.

19. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont.
2. People uninterested in community matters.
3. Constant Resident Turnover.
4. Breakdown of school and family.
5. Lack of informal and formal social controls.

20. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont. Shaw & McKay (Chicago – 1920’s) TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS 1. Poor neighborhoods with high population turnover. 2. Neighborhood organization breaks down and crime takes over.

21. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont. Shaw & McKay (Chicago – 1920’s) Concentric Zones 1. Nine Concentric zones circle around the central city. 2. Most crime occurs in the inner city zones. * These theories have been continuously upheld.

22. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont.
William Julius Wilson (Chicago – 1970’s)
POVERTY CONCENTRATION EFFECT
Because people FLEE from poor disorganized neighborhoods, the group that remains is STUCK.

23. Social Structure Theory
Social Disorganization Theory – Cont.
Robert Sampson (1990’s – 2000)
COLLECTIVE EFFICACY
(The opposite of the concentration effect.)
Cohesive communities with TRUST & SUPERVISION of children.

24. Social Structure Theory
Three Forms of Collective Efficacy
1. Informal Social Control
The family supervise and guide youth.
Neighbors “watch out” for each other.

25. Social Structure Theory
Three Forms of Collective Efficacy – Cont.
2. Institutional Social Control
Schools, churches, businesses, social service & volunteer organizations.

26. Social Structure Theory
Three Forms of Collective Efficacy – Cont.
3. Public Social Control
Police, political power, governmental groups and programs.

27. Social Structure Theory
2. STRAIN THEORY (Robert Merton – 1957) View crime as a result of lower class FRUSTRATION & ANGER. People who can not achieve goals conventionally turn to crime.

28. Social Structure Theory
STRAIN THEORY (Robert Merton – 1957) Theory of ANOMIE (Lack of norms) (Two elements of culture interact to produce ANOMIE.) 1. Culturally defined goals. Ex. Wealth 2. Socially approved means for attaining them.

29. Social Structure Theory
INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE THEORY (Steven Messner & Richard Rosenfeld – 1994) Updated version of Merton's work on Anomie. Anomie arises because of the desire to succeed & have a piece of the “American Dream” at ANY COST.

30. Social Structure Theory
INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE THEORY (Steven Messner & Richard Rosenfeld – 1994) 1. Non – Economic functions are de valued. EX. Family, school, community, are beneath economic goals.

31. Social Structure Theory
INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE THEORY (Steven Messner & Richard Rosenfeld – 1994) 2. Non – Economic roles have to adjust to economic roles. EX. Families move, schools change to accommodate better jobs.

32. Social Structure Theory
INSTITUTIONAL ANOMIE THEORY (Steven Messner & Richard Rosenfeld – 1994) Economic language penetrates non – economic realms. EX. – “Bottom Line” “Downsize” Spouses are “Partners” Countries should be run like “businesses”

33. General Strain Theory
General Strain Theory – (Robert Agnew 1993) Criminality is the result of “NEGATIVE AFFECTIVE STATES”. Anger, frustration, & adverse emotions in the wake of destructive social relationships.

34. General Strain Theory
General Strain Theory – (Robert Agnew 1993) Examples: We are unable to attain wealth & fame We see our peers as doing better than us. Loss or perceived loss. (Boyfriend, Divorce, Death, etc. Child abuse, crime, school failure, (negative stimuli)

35. Social Structure Theory
3. CULTRAL DEVIANCE THEORY A LOWER CLASS SUB CULTURE develops as a reaction to: An inability to attain MAINSTREAM GOALS.

36. Social Structure Theory
CULTRAL DEVIANCE THEORY – Cont. Walter Miller (1958) FOCAL CONCERNS Excitement, Risk Taking & Street Smarts are valued.

37. Social Structure Theory
CULTRAL DEVIANCE THEORY – Cont. Albert Cohen (1955) Wrote, “ Delinquent Boys”. Since they can NOT achieve success lower class youth develop, “STATUS FRUSTRATION” Sub Cultures like GANGS emerge.

38. Social Structure Theory
CULTRAL DEVIANCE THEORY – Cont.
DIFFERENTIAL OPPORTUNITY
Lower class youth (due to limited legitimate opportunities) join gangs & seek criminal activity to achieve STATUS & SUCCESS