test 2 Flashcards
week 6 to 9 content (70 cards)
what is a Social Structure?
Where ppl live together and interact in society
- At “macro-level,” the social structure is:
class structure, social institutions, and other large social groups.
Social Change
changing social structure and organization of society
Economic Structure stats
- Immigrants and racial / ethnic minorities are more likely to be poor.
○ 1 of 5 kids live in poverty
○ immigrants are more likely to be victims of crime
what class has the highest poverty
among working class than among the elderly
DETROIT, Michigan
- was a booming city but now is a ghetto
-large unemplyment rate, hgihest USA crime rate, largest bankrubtcy
Cleveland, Ohio
- a booming city that also died
-As industry’s and businesses left so did ppl and employment opportunity’s
-attepmted to redo the city: but this failed to recognise the real problems like homelessnes, no jobs, no manifacturing
Unemployment and Crime: Structural level - macro
High unemployment doesn’t result in higher crime
Unemployment and Crime: individual level
○ Convicted offenders have poor work records + high levels of unemployment=reducing their stake in conformity
Unemployment and Crime: Causation v.s. selection argument
Causation = Poverty lead to crime
- i.e. u are poor so u have to steal
Selection = Crimes leads to poverty
-i.e. Middle class offenders once they have done their jail time move down the socioeconomic ladder
the 3 branches of Social Structure Theory
CD.SD.S
- Cultural Deviance Theory:
- Social Disorganization Theory:
- Strain Theory:
Social Structure Theory
○class division and its impact on crime.
3 major branchs
branch of social structure theory: 1 Social Disorganization Theory:
○Neighbourhoods marked by cultural conflict, lack of cohesion, and transiency
○ Crime explained via ecological characteristics like community breakdown, high level of unemployment
○ Sub theory's § a) Concentric Zones Theory § b) Social Ecology Theory
branch of social structure theory; Strain Theory
○What happens when ppl cant achieve their goals through good means
○ Crime = a response to anger and frustration
○ Sub theory's a) Anomie Theory -Normlessness come from a rapid social changes in society b) Institutional Anomie Theory c) General Strain Theory
Cultural Deviance Theory
this = that
-Lower class value system develops bc ppl live in disorganized neighbourhoods and feel strain
-Criminal behaviour = acting as a lower social status
Concentric Zone Theory
A + B =C
○ Chicago developed distinct natural areas of poverty
-instability + transience = key to explain crime
The geography of the great migration - image breakdown
C.T.W.R.C
core = the central business district for Factories and office buildings
○ Zone 2 ; transition = suseptable to crime
○ Zone 3 ; Working class homes
○ Zone 4 ; residental
○ Zone 5 ; commuter zone
Value conflict
○ Kids in these neighbourhoods develop values different from the middle class that is criminal
○ Lower class values ≠ Middle class values
-Can Explains why crime rates are highest in inner city pockets
Social Disorganization sub theroy- Social Ecology Theory
- Community-level indicators of deterioration: poverty, alienation, disorder, fear
-Fear leads to “siege mentality”
strength: accounts for urban crime trends
“siege mentality”
○ Belief that the outside world is an enemy out to destroy neighbourhood. symptom of community disorganization
○ i.e. ppl cant enjoy their neighborhoods anymore
collective efficacy
○ a community can work together to control crime and create a safe environment
○ low collective efficacy: Ppl stop looking out for each other
Strain - Anomie Theory
○The conflict when people can’t achieve their goals through legitimate means
○ Strain is the root of crime / deviance
Durkheim & Anomie
- feeling Normlessness
- Ppl don’t feel apart of the collected conscious
Strain - Anomie Theory - martin
-Builds on Durkheim’s “Anomie”
○ Crime occur bc strain from cultural goals and insitutional means
