Social Structural Theories of Criminology Summary

Definition of Social Structural Tradition:
- Social structural theories of crime assert that crime results from aspects of social structure rather than individual traits.
Causes of Crime:
- According to social structural theories, crime is influenced by social environment factors, not just psychological or biological reasons.
Human Nature:
- Human nature is argued to be socially constructed, shaped by societal influences and conditions.

Core Belief About Crime:
- Crime is prepared by societal structures, while individuals act it out within those contexts.
Definition of Social Structure:
- “The framework of social institutions—the family, educational, religious, economic, and political institutions that operate to structure the patterns of relationships members of society have with one another” (Walsh and Hemmens 2014).

Human Nature and Behavior:
- Human nature is a product of social conditions rather than inherent traits. Anti-social behavior is attributed to poor social practices, such as:
- Competitiveness
- Poverty
- Racism
- Inequality
- Discrimination
Theoretical Perspectives:
- Two main theories impacting structural criminology:
1. Consensus (Functionalist) Theory
2. Conflict Theory

Historical Context:
- Established in the 1920s and 1930s in Chicago, USA.
Research Focus:
- Studied juvenile delinquency through Cook County records from 1900-1933, noting high delinquency rates from specific neighborhoods.
Key Findings:
- Areas with high crime rates exhibited unique environmental factors that contributed to crime unrelated to individual ethnicity or behavior.

Environmental Influence:
- Influenced by other scientific advancements—Darwin's work highlighted the importance of environmental factors over free will in criminal behavior.
- Aimed to debunk existing theories that attributed crime to individual characteristics, focusing instead on environmental conditions.

City Structure:
- Cities develop in concentric circles or zones:
1. Central Business District:
  - Core area of commerce.
2. Transitional Zone:
  - Deteriorating housing; highest crime rates; influx of immigrants.
3. Working-Class Zone:
  - Single-family tenements.
4. Residential Zone:
  - Single-family homes with yards.
5. Commuter Zone:
  - Suburban areas.
Importance of the Transitional Zone:
- Represented the area with the highest instability and crime due to social disorganization.

Contributing Factors to Social Disorganization:
- Poverty: Lack of resources.
- Population Turnover: Frequent migration leads to unstable communities.
- Racial/Ethnic Heterogeneity: Diversity can create barriers to collective actions.
Definition of Social Disorganization:
- “In its purest formulation, social disorganization refers to the inability of local communities to realize the common values of their residents or solve commonly experienced problems.” (Bursik 1988)
Impact on Crime:
- Breakdown of traditional community bonds leads to higher crime rates; this was notably true in transitional zones.

Shaw and McKay's Coherence:
- Argued that crime resulted not from individual issues but from environmental factors.
- Disorganized neighborhoods perpetuate “criminal traditions” across generations.
Critique of Social Disorganization Theory:
- Questions raised about causal direction—whether neighborhoods cause crime or if inhabitants have inherent tendencies to criminality.
- Discussion of why only a fraction of inhabitants in disorganized areas engage in crime.

Definition of Anomie:
- Refers to a social state marked by breakdown of norms leading to social instability.
Social Processes Leading to Crime:
- Crime viewed as a byproduct of wider social issues rather than individual faults.
Emile Durkheim's Contributions:
- Social order and disorder are heavily influenced by social facts that exist outside individual control.
- Noted two types of societies:
1. Mechanical Societies:
  - Simple social ties; solidarity from shared experiences. Examples include pre-industrial societies.
2. Organic Societies:
  - Complex interdependencies; defined by a division of labor where individuals are interrelated. Examples include industrial societies.

Definition:
- Refers to the shared beliefs and values of a community that enforce norms and behaviors.
Attitudes Towards Crime:
- Mechanical societies enforce repressive justice, while organic societies seek restorative justice.

Relation of Society Type to Crime Rates:
- Crime is normal across societies, dependent upon societal structuring and regulation.
- Societies with skewed divisions of labor and weak collective consciousness tend to experience higher crime rates.
Impact of Crime on Society:
- Acts as a reinforcing mechanism for collective conscience.

Merton's Thesis:
- Provided a framework linking social structure to crime through cultural goals and associated means.
- Critiqued for assuming a near-universal desire for American Dream, neglecting inequalities.
Five Responses to Social Strain:
1. Conformism:
- Acceptance of both goals and means.
1. Innovation:
- Acceptance of goals but rejection of means, resorting to illegitimate avenues (crime).
1. Ritualism:
- Abandonment of goals but adherence to means; pursuit becomes an end in itself.
1. Retreatism:
- Rejection of both goals and means, resulting in withdrawal from society.
1. Rebellion:
- Creation of new goals and means to counter societal norms.
Analogies Used by Merton:
- Analogous to a basketball game with varying motivations and adherence to rules.

Societal Factors Also Influence Crime Rates:
- Materialism in society correlates with higher crime, as the emphasis on success overshadows legitimate means.

Limitations in Theory:
- Some theories overly simplify the relationship between opportunity and crime; they do not address broader structural inequalities adequately.

Question on Environmental Factors:
- Discuss the role of environmental factors in shaping understanding of crime as illustrated by Shaw and McKay (1942).
Question on Merton's Adaptations to Strain:
- List and briefly describe adaptations to strain identified by Merton.