Sociological-Theory.pptx sociology of crimes

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1. Sociological Theory Presenter: Mr. Isnani M. Tato Mr. Arvin Tero

2. Specific Objectives: Discuss and analyse the concept of sociological theories. Discuss the sociological theories and its causes.

3. What is Sociology? Is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life.

4. There are several different theories about why people commit crimes. On one hand, some people believe that crime is a rational choice, and criminals weigh the pros and cons of committing a crime before doing it. Others believe that criminals are biologically – or psychologically – different from law – abiding citizens. One key idea that the sociological theories have in common, is that criminal behaviour is not innate to humans and circumstances affect how people act. That is, people aren’t born criminals, it is the environment in which they live that influences how they will turn out.

5. 1. Social Disorganization Theory Social disorganization theory links crime rates to neighbourhood’s ecological characteristics. Crime rates are elevated in highly transient (where residential and commercial property exist side by side) and/or changing neighbourhoods in which the fabric of social life has become frayed. These localities are unable to provide essential services, such as education health care, and proper housing and as a result, experience significant levels of unemployment, single parent families, and families on Welfare and Aid to Dependent Children (ADC).

6. Views of Social Disorganization Theory 1. Poverty Development of isolated lower-class areas Lack of conventional social opportunities Racial and ethnic discrimination 2. Social Disorganization Breakdown of social institutions and organizations such as schools and family Lack of informal social control 3. Breakdown of social control Development of gangs, groups Peer group replaces family and social institutions

7. 4. Criminal Areas Neighbourhood become crime-prone Stable pockets of crime develop Lack of external support and investment 5. Cultural Transmission Adults pass norms (focal concerns) to younger generations, creating stable lower class culture. 6. Criminal Careers Most youth “age out” of delinquency, marry, and raises families, but some remain in life of crime.  

8. 2. Strain Theory Criminologists who view crime as a direct result of lower class frustration and anger are referred to as strain theorists. They believe that the most people share similar values and goals but the ability to achieve personal goals is stratified by socioeconomic class. Strain is limited in affluent areas because educational and vocational opportunities are available. In disorganized areas, strain occurs because legitimate avenues for success are all but closed. To relived strain, indigent people may be forced either to use deviant method to achieve their goals, such as theft or drug trafficking, or to reject socially accepted goals out-right and substitute other, more deviant goals, such as being tough and aggressive.

9. The Basic Components of Strain Theory 1. Poverty Development of isolated lower-class culture Lack of conventional social opportunities Racial and ethnic discrimination 2. Maintenance of conventional rules and norms Residents of lower-class areas are remain loyal to conventional values and rules of dominant middle-class culture. 3. Strain Lack of opportunity coupled with desire for conventional success produces strain and frustration.

10. 4. Formation of gangs and groups Youths from law-abiding groups to seek alternative means of achieving success. 5. Crime and delinquency Methods of groups – theft, violence, substance abuse – are defined as illegal by dominant culture. 6. Criminal careers Most youth “age out” of delinquency, marry, and raise families, but some remain in life of crime.

11. 3. Differential Opportunity Theory This view says that although one may be denied legitimate opportunity that does not mean that one has access to illegitimate opportunity. Although deprivation and strain can and do play a role, one learns a good or bad response to that strain depending on the available opportunities and role models, legitimate or illegitimate

12. 4. Anomie Theory by Emile Durkheim’s The roots of strain theories can be trace to Emile Durkheim’s notion of anomie (meaning, without norm or normlessness). According to Durkheim, an anomic society is one in which rules of behaviour (norms) have broken down or become inoperative during of rapid social change or social crisis such as war or famine. An anomic society is not able to control human aspirations and demands. Anomies is most likely to occur in societies that are moving from mechanical to organic solidarity . Mechanical Solidarity – is characteristics of pre-industrial society, which is held together by traditions, shared values and unquestioned beliefs. Organic Solidarity – in posundustrial social systems, which are highly developed and dependent upon the division of labor , people are connected by their interdependent needs for each other’s services and production.

13. Theory of Anomie by Robert Merton Durkheim’s ideas were applied to criminology by sociologist Robert Merton in his theory of anomie. Merton used a modified version of the concept of the anomie to fit social, economic, and cultural conditions found in modern U.S. society. He found the two elements of culture interact to produce potentially anomic conditions: culturally defined goals and socially approved means for obtaining them. For example, U.S. society stresses the goal of acquiring wealth, success and power. Socially permissible means include hard work, education and thrift.

14. Social adaptations – Merton argued that each person has his or her own concept of the goals of society and the means at his or her disposal to attain them. Whereas some people have inadequate means to attaining success, others who do have the means reject societal goals as being unsuited to them.

15. Typology of Individual Modes of Adaptation Conformity – occurs when individuals both embrace conventional social goals and also have the means at their disposal to attain them. In a balanced, stable society, this is the most common social adaptation. If a majority of its people did not practice conformity, the society would cease to exist. Innovation – occurs when an individual accepts the goals of society but rejects or is incapable of attaining them through legitimate means. Many people desired material goods and luxuries but the lack the financial ability to attain them. The resulting conflict forces them to adopt innovative solutions to their dilemma: they steal, sell drugs, or extort money. Of the five adaptations, innovation is most closely associated with criminal behaviour. Ritualism – ritualists gain pleasure from practicing traditional ceremonies regardless of whatever they have a real purpose or goal. The strict set of manners and customs in religious orders, feudal societies, clubs, and college fraternities encourage and appeal to ritualists . Ritualists should have the lowest level of criminal behaviour because they have abandoned the success goal, which is at the root of criminal activity.

16. Retreatism – rejects both the goals and the means of society. Merton’s suggests that people who adjust in this fashion are “in society but not of it.” Included in this category are “psychotics, psychoneurotic, chronic autists , vagrants, vagabonds, tramps, chronic drunkards, and the drug addicts”. Because such people are morally or otherwise incapable of using both legitimate and illegitimate means, they attempt to escape their lack of success by withdrawing – either mentally or physically. Rebellion – involves substituting an alternative set of goals and means for conventional ones. Revolutionaries who wish to promote radical change in he existing social structure and who call for alternative lifestyles, goals, and beliefs are engaging in rebellion. Rebellion may be a reaction against a corrupt and hated government or an effort to create alternate opportunities and lifestyles within the existing system.

17. 5. Social Reaction Theory Says people become criminals when significant members of society label them as such and they accept those labels as a personal identity.

18. 6. Containment Theory Suggest that individual are pushed and pulled into crime. Pushes are elements that pressure individuals to engage in delinquency while pulls draw individual away from accepted forms of behaviour. The theory states that pushes and pulls are buffered by inner and outer containments. The inner containments includes self-concept, goal orientation, frustration tolerance, and norm commitment and retention (elements within the individual self). The outer containment include the social environment in which an individual resides and reflects socialization within the community (elements outside one’s self).

19. 7. Cultural Deviance Theory Sociologists Clifford Shaw and Henry Mckay developed Cultural Deviance Theory. The theory states that the individual is not responsible for their deviance as much as the community within which they reside. People are influenced by the place, people and social structure of the community in which they reside

20. 8. Differential Oppression Theory According to the theory of Differential Oppression Theory, oppression leads to adaptive reactions by children: passive acceptance, exercise of illegitimate coercive power, manipulation of one’s peers, and retaliation. The developmental – ecological perspective provides a means for understanding how the oppression of children occurs within multiple social context that interrelate to produce harmful outcomes for children. Because children lack of power due to their age, size and lack of resources, they are easy targets for adult oppression. Children are exposed to different levels and types of oppression that vary depending on their age, level of development, socioeconomic class, race, and the belief and perceptions of their parents.

21. References: Theories of Crime Causation By: Dr. Dennis Delos Santos Dr. Henedina Albacea Lagumen