Chapter Six:

Social Structure Theory:

Because They’re Poor

Objectives Be familiar with the concept of social structure Have knowledge of the socioeconomic structure of

American society Be able to discuss the concept of social disorganization Be familiar with the works of Shaw and McKay Know the various elements of ecological theory Be able to discuss the association between collective

efficacy and crime Know what is meant by the term “anomie” Be familiar with the concept of strain Understand the concept of cultural deviance

Socioeconomic Structure and Crime

People in the United States live in a stratified society Social strata are created by the unequal distribution Social structure theorists suggest that social and

economic forces operating in deteriorated lower class areas push many of their residents into criminal behavior patterns

A disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime

The Underclass

Culture of Poverty: suggests that the crushing lifestyle of lower-class areas produces a culture which is passed from one generation to the next

Apathy, cynicism, helplessness, and mistrust of social institutions such as schools, government agencies, and the police mark the culture of poverty

This mistrust prevents members from taking advantage of the meager opportunities

Child Poverty

Findings suggest that poverty during early childhood may have a more severe impact on behavior than poverty during adolescence and adulthood

Children who grow up in low income homes are less likely to achieve in school and are less likely to complete their schooling than children with more affluent parents

More likely to suffer from health problems and to receive inadequate health care

Limited chance of earning a college degree

Minority Group Poverty The burdens of underclass are often felt most

acutely by minority group members Minorities are denied protections and privileges

offered to many whites According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 25% of

African Americans and 22% of Hispanics live in poverty as compared to 8% of non-Hispanics whites and 11% of Asians

Minority children are four times less likely to have health insurance as other kids

If interracial economic disparity would end, so too might differences in the crime rate

Social Structure Theories

Social disorganization theory Strain theory Cultural deviance theory

Social Disorganization Theory

Branch of social structure theory that focuses on the breakdown of institutions such as the family, school, and employment in inner-city neighborhoods

Types of social disorganization theory:• Shaw and McKay’s concentric zones theory• Social ecology theory

Concentric Zones Theory

Crime is a product of transitional neighborhoods that manifest social disorganization and value conflict

Identifies why crime rates are highest in inner-city areas

Points out the factors that produce crime Suggests programs to help reduce crime

The Social Ecology School

The conflicts and problems of urban social life and communities, including community deterioration, chronic unemployment, community fear, community change and cycles of community change

Community Deterioration: disorder, poverty, alienation, disassociation, and fear of crimes accounts for urban crime rates and trends

Crime-ridden neighborhoods exert a powerful influence over behaviors that is strong enough to neutralize the positive effects of a supportive family and close social ties.

1. Informal social controls: exerted by either awarding or withholding approval, respect, and admiration

2. Institutional social control: exerted by cohesive communities utilizing the institutions like schools, businesses, stores, and churches

3. Public social control: the use of external sources such as more police and political powerbrokers, and financial government assistance

Collective efficacy

Strain Theory

Branch of social structure theory that sees crime as a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means available to obtain these goals

Types of strain theory include:• The Concept of Anomie • Macro-Level Theory: Institutional Anomie Theory• Micro-Level Theory: General Strain Theory

Anomie Theory

People who adopt the goals of society but lack the means to attain them seek alternatives such as crime

Points out how competition for success creates conflict and crime

Suggests that social conditions, not personality, can account for crime

Explains high lower-class crime rates

Variety of Social Adaptations

Each person has his or her own concept of the goals of society and the means at his or her disposal to attain them; they may develop criminal or delinquent solutions to the problem of attaining goals.

conformity innovation ritualism retreatism rebellion

Macro-Level Theory: Institutional Anomie Theory

Material goods pervade all aspects of American life Explains why crime rates are so high in American

culture American Dream, a term employed as both a goal

and a process The American Dream involves accumulating

material goods and wealth via open individual competition

Capitalist system encourages innovation in pursuit of monetary rewards

General Micro-Level Theory: General Strain Theory

Strain has a variety of sources and causes crime in the absence of adequate coping mechanisms

Identifies the complexities of strain in modern society

Expands on anomie theory Shows the influence of social events on behavior

over the life course Explains middle-class crimes

Sources of Strain

Failure to achieve positively valued goals Disjunction of expectations and achievements Removal of positively valued stimuli Presentation of negative stimuli

Cultural Deviance Theories

Branch of social structure theory that sees strain and social disorganization together resulting in a unique lower class culture that conflicts with conventional social norms

Types of cultural deviance theory:. Conduct Norms• Focal Concerns• Theory of Delinquent Subcultures• Theory of Differential Opportunity

Conduct Norms

The concept that the lower class develops a unique culture in response to the strain

These groups maintain their own set of conduct norms—rules governing the day-to-day living conditions within these subcultures.

Focal Concern Theory

Citizens who obey the street rules of lower class life (focal concerns)

Clinging to lower class focal concerns promotes illegal or violent behavior

Toughness, street smarts, excitement Identifies the core values of lower class culture and

shows their association to crime

Millers’ Lower Class Focal Concerns

Trouble Toughness Smartness Excitement Fate Autonomy

Theory of Delinquent Subcultures

Status frustration of lower class boys, created by their failure to achieve middle-class success, causes them to engage in delinquency

Shows how the conditions of lower class life produce crime

Identifies conflict of lower class with the middle class Is a consequence of socialization practices found in the

ghetto or inner-city environment May include: developmental handicaps, poor speech,

and communication skills, and inability to delay gratification

Theory of Differential Opportunity

Blockage of conventional opportunities causes lower class youths to join criminal, conflict, or retreatist gangs

Shows that even illegal opportunities are structured in society

Indicates why people become involved in a particular type of criminal activity

Opportunities for success, both illegal and conventional, are closed for the most ‘truly disadvantaged” youth