Theories of Crime - Week 5

Question 1

Ecological Perspective

Answer 1

• Sociological theory of crime
• Biological & psychological theories look for explanations that are within individuals - pathologies - sociological see the cause of crime in factors that are external to individuals in society

Question 2

Sociological Theorist View

Answer 2

• Sociological theories see criminal and delinquents as

normal people whose behaviour is influenced in some way by the social environment in which they live

Question 3

What is important concept to Chicago school theorists?

Answer 3

Environment

- they have linked crime directly to environmental design and urbanisation

Question 4

Social Deviance

Answer 4

• Major concern for Chicago sociologists

Question 5

Social Deviance Definition

Answer 5

violation of society’s norms or rules for appropriate behaviour

Question 6

Social Deviance as a _____

Answer 6

Social Problem

Question 7

Used two main methods of research

1

Answer 7

1) official data - census data, but Chicago school used Chicago specific data

Question 8

Used two main methods of research

2

Answer 8

2) the life history method or ethnography - talking to people, interviewing, observations,

Question 9

Robert Park

Answer 9

• Chicago sociologist
• Applied principles of plant & animal ecology to understanding criminal deviance and cases
• ecological perspective (school of thought)

Question 10

Robert Park

Observations

Answer 10

1) racial, class and other group associations affect one another’s daily lives
2) these groups are also affected by a variety of conditions in the urban environment, including land use, property values, location of industry, and natural boundaries (rivers, highways, railroad lines)

Question 11

Robert Park

Factors relationships name

Answer 11

“Social system”

- human equivalent of an “eco-system”

Question 12

Robert Park
Sociological Analysis of City Life
(2)

Answer 12

1) Symbiosis

2) Invasion, Domination & Succession

Question 13

Robert Park

Symbiosis

Answer 13

• refers to a condition of mutual interdependence among organisms in an environment that is necessary for survival
  example: like how trees and humans need eachother

Question 14

Robert Park

Symbiosis

Answer 14

• elimination of affordable housing for disadvantaged people in city will require them to adapt and relocate, large scale unaffordability causes larger problems in terms of homelessness, crime, disorder and other concerns

Question 15

Robert Park
Symbiosis
Most Important Thing

Answer 15

• human ecology is the idea that changes in any part of the social system affect all other components

Question 16

Robert Park

Invasion, Domination & Succession

Answer 16

• in plant and animal ecology, refers to a sequential process that involves species competing with each other for scarce resources, thus changing the balance of relationships in a given geographical area. New species drive out competitors, come to dominate the environment and eventually form stable interdependencies themselves with other species of animal and plant life.

Question 17

Robert Park

Invasion, Domination & Succession

Answer 17

• industrial and commercial establishments reclaim slum areas, seeing these parts of the city as inexpensive investment properties with potential for increased value. Investors purchase dilapidated housing at low costs; the people who lived in these run-down areas may have their (rented) homes sold from under them to be replaced with new business or fancy condos, or find themselves unwelcome in the new, gentrifying environment. The original inhabitants are often displaced to other parts of the city. When they are displaced they may also have difficulty finding alternative affordable housing.

Question 18

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)

Concentric Zone Theory

Answer 18

1) Loop Zone
2) Transition Zone
3) Workingmens Home Zone
4) Residential Zone
5) Commuter Zone

Question 19

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)
Concentric Zone Theory
Loop

Answer 19

• core of city
• commerce, industry and government can afford these high prices
• banks, stores, hotels, theatres, public transportation & government offices

Question 20

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)
Concentric Zone Theory
Transition Zone

Answer 20

• property value is eroded
• property owners here believe that they will be torn down to make room for industrial and commercial expansion, don’t maintain their buildings
• low-rent, run-down dwellings for marginalized and immigrant population
  Natural Area: Ghettos

Question 21

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)
Concentric Zone Theory
Workingmens Homes

Answer 21

• inexpensive two and three family dwellings
• migrated outward from the transitional zone
  Natural Areas: communities united by ethnic or religious ties
  (railway tracks, rivers or roads)

Question 22

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)
Concentric Zone Theory
Residential

Answer 22

• more expensive apartments and dwellings occupied by middle class
• small business’ and professional offices
  Natural Areas: communities united by ethnic or religious ties
  (railway tracks, rivers or roads)

Question 23

Robert Park & Ernest Burgess (1924)
Concentric Zone Theory
Commuter

Answer 23

• residences of more affluent commuter population

- richer people

Question 24

Social Disorganization Theory

Shaw and McKay (1942)

Answer 24

• work established off of Ernest and Burgess
• Found that crime rates are highest in transitional zone
• different types of people are always in the transitional zone, can’t connect with neighbours

Question 25

Cultural Transmission Theory | Shaw and McKay

Answer 25

- social disorganization leads to criminal activity by highlighting role of cultural transmission - population looked down upon, population unstable, little work, no money for schools, health care. - Don't like law enforcement, children have few or no part time jobs, recreation or positive opportunities. this results in criminal behaviour among youth

Question 26

Symbolic Interaction & Culture Conflict

Answer 26

- Relativist view Relativist view = no absolutes - behaviour is defined as unacceptable by one community or in one historical context could be defined as acceptable in another Example: homosexuality used to be a sin, but now it is allowed in most places

Question 27

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Deviant Places - 5 Characteristics

Answer 27

1) Density 2) Poverty 3) Mixed use of Space 4) Transience 5) Dilapidation

Question 28

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Density

Answer 28

- deviant neighbourhoods crowded, densely populated areas

Question 29

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Poverty

Answer 29

- deviant neighbourhoods impoverished, and inhabited by people who work long hours for little pay or unemployed

Question 30

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Mixed use of Space

Answer 30

- deviant neighbourhoods have both residents and commercial use of space. - they are side by side, sometimes same building - strangers in area who come to access businesses but do not reside there

Question 31

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Transience

Answer 31

- high rates of residents turnovers and people moves in and out of area - residents don't get to know or develop strong relationships with neighbours because constantly changing

Question 32

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Dilapidation

Answer 32

- run down and not maintained

Question 33

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Law Enforcement

Answer 33

- may be initially over-policed but over time come to be ignored - over-policing makes them feel targeted and reduced trust in police and they will then stop calling for assistance expect for most serious cases - since under policed they are attractive for those engaging in deviant behaviour (drug dealing)

Question 34

Deviant Places Rodney Stark (1987) Important Concept

Answer 34

place | how does it become bad?

Question 35

``` Alice Coleman (1989) Design Disadvantage ```

Answer 35

- crime rates can be lowered by reducing area's design disadvantage - there could be individual yards for each house or flat, rather than communal this gives a sense of belonging, increasing time spent outside, getting to know neighbours CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design)

Question 36

Defensible Space

Answer 36

- space clearly defined through range of real and symbolic barriers that allow residents to defend and control that space

Question 37

Collective Efficacy | Sampson et al (1998)

Answer 37

Mutual trust among neighbours combined with willingness to intervene on behalf of the common good, specifically to supervise children and maintain public order

Question 38

Collective Efficacy | Sampson et al (1998)

Answer 38

- neighbourhoods characterized by high collective efficacy have lower crime rates, regardless of level of poverty of racial composition