Theories of Crime: Theories

Introduction to Sociological Theories

  • Basic Theories: Structural Functionalism, Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict Theory

  • These theories are frameworks for understanding society and human behavior.

  • Each theory offers a different lens through which to interpret societal events and criminality.

  • Application of Theories: Theories will be crucial for assignments related to the book "Code of the Streets."

    • First assignment involves analyzing deviance in the first four chapters using these theories.

    • Second assignment will cover chapters five and beyond, using theories learned later in the course.

The Chicago School and Its Theories

Robert Park's Contributions

  • Known as the father of American sociology.

  • Argued that city development is based on functional needs.

  • His work established the foundation for urban sociology in the 1920s

  • European sociologists deemed it applicable only to Eastern American cities.

Concentric Zone Model (Burgess)

  • Structure of the City: Divided into concentric circles representing different zones.

    • Central Business District (CBD): The core area where economic activities are concentrated.

    • Zone of Transition: Typically contains factories and impoverished neighborhoods, often housing immigrant populations transitioning into American culture.

    • Working Class Zone: Small houses or apartments for low-income residents working in factories.

    • Residential Zone: Middle-class families reside here, having moved up economically.

    • Commuter Zone: Wealthy individuals live here, having access to transportation.

  • Important to identify connection between zone and crime rates, particularly where deviance flourishes in the transition zone.

Crime and Social Organization

Influence of Social Disorganization

  • High crime rates often correlate with disorganized neighborhoods lacking social control.

  • Sampson's Research: Found that disorganization leads to criminal behaviors, suggesting the absence of both formal and informal social controls.

  • Types of Social Control:

    • Formal Control: Includes police, schools, and government interventions.

    • Informal Control: Derived from community networks and personal relationships.

  • Strong informal networks correlate with lower crime rates.

Differential Association Theory (Sutherland)

  • Introduced in the 1930s.

  • Asserts that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others.

  • Criminality must be taught and cannot be innate; people become criminal by associating with those who engage in such behavior.

  • Critique: Fails to explain the origins of initial criminal acts.

Cultural Deviance and the Code of the Street

Elijah Anderson's Work

  • "Code of the Streets": Examines urban culture where certain behaviors are normatively accepted as part of survival.

  • Cultural Deviance Theory: Cultural norms differ from the mainstream, leading to differing perceptions of legality and criminality.

  • Individuals from different backgrounds may not recognize their behavior as deviant within their cultural context.

The Interaction of Poverty, Culture, and Crime

  • High levels of poverty and lack of stability contribute to crime rates in urban areas.

  • Transience makes community-building difficult, hindering informal social control.

  • Legal cynicism may lead residents to disengage from the law, enabling crime to flourish.

Conclusion

  • Understanding the complexities of societal structures helps explain criminal behavior.

  • Emphasizing the importance of community ties, cultural context, and individual associations in defining criminality.

  • Sociological theories provide a comprehensive toolkit for analyzing crime within society.