Theories of Social ControlTheories of Social Control

Macrosociological TheoriesMacrosociological Theories Explores formal systems for the Explores formal systems for the

control of groups:control of groups: The legal system, laws, and The legal system, laws, and

particularly law enforcementparticularly law enforcement Powerful groups in societyPowerful groups in society Social and economic directives Social and economic directives

of government or private groupsof government or private groups Focuses on broader social Focuses on broader social

structures, such as community structures, such as community structure, economic factors, structure, economic factors, ethnic or racial composition of a ethnic or racial composition of a community and other patterns community and other patterns that characterize groups of that characterize groups of peoplepeople

Microsociological TheoriesMicrosociological Theories Focuses on informal systemsFocuses on informal systems Collect data from individualsCollect data from individuals Often rely on hypotheses that Often rely on hypotheses that

apply to individuals as well as to apply to individuals as well as to groups, and frequently make groups, and frequently make reference to or examine a reference to or examine a person’s internal control systemperson’s internal control system

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The Macrosociological Perspective: The Macrosociological Perspective: Social Disorganization TheorySocial Disorganization Theory

Focuses on the development of high-crime Focuses on the development of high-crime areas in which there is a disintegration of areas in which there is a disintegration of conventional values caused by rapid conventional values caused by rapid industrialization, increased immigration, and industrialization, increased immigration, and urbanization.urbanization.

Based on notions of social control, and how the Based on notions of social control, and how the lack of such controls (formal and informal) lack of such controls (formal and informal) contribute to delinquency and crime.contribute to delinquency and crime.

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Social DisorganizationSocial Disorganization

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Social Disorganization: Social Disorganization: Park & Burgess ModelPark & Burgess Model

Introduced the study of Introduced the study of ecology into the study of ecology into the study of human society.human society.

Examination of area Examination of area characteristics instead of characteristics instead of criminals to explain high criminals to explain high crime rates.crime rates.

Natural urban areas consist Natural urban areas consist of concentric zones.of concentric zones.

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Social Disorganization: Social Disorganization: Shaw & McKay’s WorkShaw & McKay’s Work

Examined the model that Park & Burgess created.Examined the model that Park & Burgess created. Demonstrated that the highest rates of delinquency Demonstrated that the highest rates of delinquency

persisted in the same areas of Chicago even though persisted in the same areas of Chicago even though ethnic composition changed.ethnic composition changed.

Conclusion: the crucial factor is not ethnicity, but rather Conclusion: the crucial factor is not ethnicity, but rather the position of the group in terms of economic status and the position of the group in terms of economic status and cultural values.cultural values.

Cultural transmissionCultural transmission: delinquency is socially learned : delinquency is socially learned behaviour that is transmitted from one generation to the behaviour that is transmitted from one generation to the next in disorganized urban areas.next in disorganized urban areas.

©2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. LO2

Social Disorganization Theory: Social Disorganization Theory: EvaluationEvaluation

Focuses on transmission of crime patterns, not on Focuses on transmission of crime patterns, not on how they start in the first place.how they start in the first place.

Fails to explain why delinquents stop committing Fails to explain why delinquents stop committing crime as they grow older.crime as they grow older.

Fails to explain why most people in socially Fails to explain why most people in socially disorganized areas do not commit criminal acts and disorganized areas do not commit criminal acts and why some bad neighbourhoods seem to be why some bad neighbourhoods seem to be insulated from crime.insulated from crime.

Does not come to grips with middle-class Does not come to grips with middle-class delinquency.delinquency.

©2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. LO2

Social Disorganization: Social Disorganization: Theory ConnectsTheory Connects

Vancouver’s Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Downtown Eastside Community Community Development Area Development Area ProjectProject

Winnipeg Graffiti Winnipeg Graffiti GalleryGallery

©2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.

Graffiti covers this wall in Montreal’s Saint Louis Square. Cities struggle to find ways of deterring vandals from damaging property in this way. In Winnipeg, youth are encouraged to display their artwork in a legitimate venue that benefits the community and the youth themselves.

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