The origin of social disorganization theory can be traced to the work of Shaw and McKay, who concluded that disorganized areas marked by divergent values and transitional populations produce criminality. Strain theories view crime as resulting from the anger people experience over their inability to achieve legitimate social and economic success. These theories hold that most people share common values and beliefs but the ability to achieve them is differentiated throughout the social structure. The best known strain theory is Merton's, which describes what happens when people have inadequate means to satisfy their needs. Cultural deviance theories hold that a unique value system develops in lower class areas.
Specifically it is hypothesized that women are less likely than men to commit bias attacks. Existing researchers had mention that bias crime perpetrators generally have low self-esteem and are typified as “cowards”. A goal of the bias crime perpetrator is to create a sense of fear in the victim, and the victims’ group, through either verbal or physical attack. (Krestin L. Taylor). This renders that males are more capable of aggressive, violent behavior.
In the article “The Power of Context”, Malcolm Gladwell theorizes that context, or external pressure, contributes much more to an individual’s behavior than previously thought. The context that Gladwell refers to can be defined by the situation an individual is in. Within a particular situation there are influencing factors, such as people or the environment that he or she is surrounded by. He further argues that his concepts, such as the Broken Windows Theory, are the main reasons for the dramatic fall of crime rates in New York during the 1990s. In this case, the broken window is a signal that the community in New York was neglected, causing others to commit other types of crimes too.
Crime Data Comparison CJA/314 The two cities I chose to compare crime rates are Los Angeles and Long Beach. Since Los Angeles is approximately four times the size of Long Beach, one could expect at least four times as many crimes are being committed. Although geographically close to one another, crime rates can differ due to such factors as the unemployment rate or the make-up of the population within certain communities. Population growth can also be considered an underlying factor in the differences in crime rate. Nevertheless, both locations have experienced a substantial decline in crime, however, as determined by the Uniform Crime Report, UCR, this seems to be interpreted as a standard fact nationwide (Fbi.gov, 2010).
It is useful for highlighting why, in the working class, those who cannot achieve in education, they then therefore suffer from status frustration and in this process turn to other people who also cannot achieve in this institution. Thus, explaining why deviance subcultures exist. This theory of status frustration is said to focus too much on utilitarian crime which is committed for material gain, but what it does not say much about is the explanation for why people commit non-utilitarian crimes like vandalism and assault. Cohen realised this and backed up this explanation by talking about alternative status hierarchy. When working class boys find that they cannot perform well in mainstream education, they look at the values of not only the education system, but the values in modern society and turn them upside down, by valuing the opposite.
They believe that people may be biological more attracted to committing crime than others for example, they believe traits such as aggression and risk taking are inborn in the person and this causes them to commit crimes. They also think that the socialisation of the person leads to their tendency towards crime. They believe, like conservatives and new rightist, that the nuclear family is the best form of socialisation and avoiding crime Another right realist, Charles Murray, believes that the rising crime rates may be due to a rising ‘underclass’, those who are defined by deviant behaviour and fail to socialise their children properly. As mentioned in item a, right realists also believe that the state plays a big part in the rtes of crime. As people can rely on the state to supply them with money people are less encouraged to go out and work to end their money, fathers no longer need to support their children as lone parents can live off benefits, there
To understand how useful certain theories and methods are when studying crime and deviance you need to know what crime and deviance is. A criminal act is something which breaks the law for example murder or rape. A deviant act however is different from a criminal act as a deviant act is something which is frowned upon in society for example being naked in public, however it is very hard to define a deviant act, as what some people see as deviant others may not. Marxists such as Karl Marx believe that society is ideologically manipulated through the law only being applied to less powerful groups such as the young, the working class and blacks. These groups of people are more likely to be arrested, convicted and sent to prison than members of more powerful groups, even if they are causing less damage to society.
Inevitable which is in modern society we have complex specialised divisions of labour which leads to individuals becoming less integrated and more individualistic. Universal is that crime exists everywhere, relative is that different crimes vary in society e.g in countries such as Dubai there laws are different to the U.K and lastly functional is that a limited amount of crime can benefit society e.g terrorism. Durkheims theory is useful as it still can be related to today’s society it also explains crime however doesn’t show a solution to crime. Durkeheim also argues that all social change begins with an act of deviance for example the suffragette movement broke the law in order to highlight gender inequalities along with Martin Luther King who had to break the law in order to fight for black rights. This is useful in today’s society as we still see wars in places like Gaza fighting for rights and change.
In the article titled “The Folly of Capital Punishment”, Jeffrey Reinam concludes that capital punishment is immoral to our society; and thus, should not be legalized. Reinam reasons the death penalty is unjust, inhuman, and goes against the progress of civilization. Reinam’s primary argument and rebuttal to Ernest Van Den Haags deterrence argument, is that the death penalty goes against the advancement of civilization. Reinam explains that throughout history we take steps to "lower tolerance for one's own pain and that suffered by others". Due to the states high visibility, size, and moral authority, it is capable to have an impact on citizens beyond the immediate act it authorizes.
We have to consider that Detroit has reported more population than Chicago. Cities that have large populations also have a greater chance of crimes being committed. People losing their jobs and many their homes could contribute to the economy status. This could contribute to the increasing numbers. Looking at what could help the numbers decrease could be because repeat offenders are receiving harsher punishments, or companies increasing their security with newer technology.