Macrosociological Theory is the analysis of the organization and structure of society and its ability to create an environment that is conducive to criminal activity. In other words, “Is the whole of society interrelated or interdependent, if so, how does it affect crime?” or “Does society influence crime?”
Microsociological Theory is the analysis of smaller portions of society (schools, family, and religion for example) and their correlation to the encouragement or ability to inhibit criminal behavior (Bohm & Vogel, 2010). The micro level examines group dynamics and the influence each member has on each other, as well as the environment on the individual (Cole, 2016). A common theme in the micro level is that criminal behavior is learned,
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Our text cites the work of Robert Merton and the achievement of the American Dream and that it can cross all sections of society. It is used in the context that failure to achieve the dream (in the beholders eyes) can lead to the commission of crime (Macro level). However, in the same vein, our text cites the work of Sykes and Matza and their 5 techniques of neutralization: 1) denial of responsibility, 2) denial of injury, 3) denial of victim, 4) condemnation of condemners, 5) appeal to higher loyalties, (all part of the micro level) (Bohm & Vogel, 2010). I point these out because I see them as variations of the same thing, but at different levels. At the macro level, failure to achieve the American Dream and crime to get it is based on the similar thought processes of the micro level - denial of victim and injury in that nobody got hurt and everyone is doing it – only at different levels. The micro level may not necessarily be achieving the American Dream, but the basic underlying premise of taking something that is not theirs for personal gain is the same. Though Sykes and Matza’s theory is applied to reducing guilty by the offender, the end game appears to be the same – personal
Shootings. Homicides. Bombings. It’s safe to say that crime is very abundant in today’s society, filling our news casts with daily reminders of the negative ora that is associated with criminal behavior. But why do people commit the crimes that they commit? Theologians have been studying crime for years, trying to determine the main reasons as to who commits crime and why. These theologians, such as Edwin Sutherland, Ronald Akers, and Robert Agnew, each take very unique view of criminal behavior, giving society many rationalities for these why people exhibit these behaviors.
One of the sociological theories is conflict theory. The conflict theory deals with people's level on wealth, or class. The conflict theory says that social change is beneficial, contrary to focuses on social order. In the story of the woman and her children, the conflict theory plays a big role on the situation. Police of higher class are threatening the homeless woman. The conflict theory is a constant struggle of people of higher class over powering people of lower class, or the weaker. The police are trying to over power the woman by telling her to leave. Even though the woman and her children were doing nothing wrong, the police used their power to tell her to leave. Also the people of the area showed their conflict theory by telling the police officers to come. They must have felt embarrassed to have a woman of such lower class to be around them. They used their power of class to have the woman removed from their community. The woman wants to be there because she has no home and it is a good community to be in, but the people look at it as an embarrassment to them because it makes their area look bad for someone of such lower class to be around them. The conflict theory is unique to all other theories because it separates people into categories determined by their wealth and standards. Their status is the element that categorizes them, weather it is class, race, or gender. The conflict theory do not always use class, race, and gender all at once. In this situation race and gender is not a main issue, although gender could be a reason, but it would fall under the feminist theory. This story is mainly dealing with class. Through all this conflict the woman feels over powered and domina...
Furthermore, the process can hinder illegal conduct. As stated by Bohm & Vogel (2011), “’Micro-level’” analyses, on the other hand, focus on how individual factors like personality or peer group contribute to an individual’s criminality” (p. (73). When looking at microsociology, it is though one at small group of a population. It is as if one is looking through a microscope which makes things appear tiny. People deal with issues with people on an individual basis or even groups that tend to be “small”. When someone has to have to see another individual personally, they view seeing things on a small perspective. If a person wants to look at his or her culture, he or she can understand how separate communications could cause an interference of the bigger picture in the world (Brown, 2017). Brown (2017) states, “You can look at how the expectations of a teacher will affect a student’s grades, or you can look at doctor-patient interactions, or how family dynamics affect the expression of prejudiced attitudes” (p. 1). The microsociologists usually use their research methods
This theory suggests that individuals who commit crime is based on their surrounding community. Shaw and McKay, who are two leading contributors to social disorganization feel that community disorganization is the main source of delinquency and believe that the solution to crime is to organize communities (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox, pg. 107). According to the reading, the strengths of social disorganization can be categorized into three. One, it explains the high crime rate in certain areas. Two, it accounts for the transmission of deviant values from one generation to the next and three, it predicts crime rates from neighborhood characteristics. Given the circumstances, these strengths can often lead to its weaknesses. The social disorganization theory uses too much of a macro-sociological approach by focusing on broad areas instead looking at the situation through an individual approach. Also, the classification of an area of being “disorganized” may actually be organized based on different
This essay will be explaining the definition of sociology, the sociological factors of obesity using Symbolic Interactionism Theory and the Functionalism Theory and a description of the medical condition obesity and how it may affect individuals suffering from it.
A highly debated topic concerns whether criminals commit crimes because of a social pressure or an individual urge. The strain theory supports crime as a social pressure because, as Frank Schmalleger suggests in Criminology Today 222, crime is an adaptive behavior that coincides with problems caused by frustration or unpleasant social surroundings. Also, culture conflict theory states the cause of delinquent behavior is because different social classes conflicting morals of what is appropriate or proper behavior, (Schmalleger 228). Other people believe blaming crime on the economy or where they grew up is making an excuse for criminals instead of making them take responsibility for their actions, as stated by CQ writer Peter Katel. These different views started with statistics taken on crime in the early 1800s. Andre Michel Guerry of France was one of the first examiners of “the moral health of nations” in the early 19th century, (Schmalleger 35). Another early crime statistician was Adolphe Quetelet of Belgium . Quetelet evaluated the crime rates between weather, sex, and age. His findings that climate contributes to high or low crime rate is a main factor in today’s fight against crime. It is doubtful this issue will ever be settled since there are too many pros and cons to each side. However, while specialists’ dispute this, crime is not stopping. There needs to be a way, or possibly several ways, to reduce criminal activity. It is doubtful criminal activity will ever be put to an end. The same is to be said about why people commit crime, but knowing if it is done socially or individually can help with the fight against it. In the end, individuals should take responsibility for their actions, but...
These theories include the anomie, strain, labeling, and social control theories of a crime. Throughout the paper, I will explain what each theory is arguing, while also including its strengths and weaknesses. I will then choose which theory I think explains crime the best. The first theory I will introduce is the anomie theory. This theory challenges biologically based theories by arguing that our internal drives and motives are not impacted in crime, instead crime is motivated by society. Basically, anomie theory eliminates the idea of being born as a criminal based on genetics. To go more in depth, anomie theory suggests that crime is motivated by the “American
Our understanding of contemporary capitalist culture and globalization has been greatly influenced by neo-Marxism. There have been many significant events all over the world such as the Great Depression, The Second World War which have contributed to our understanding of contemporary capitalist culture. There has been a "false consciousness" associated with this time and date since capitalism continues to "deliver the goods" (Adams & Sydie, 2002: 90). The beginning of the end of capitalist conflict and the beginning of the beginning of socialism came with the U.S. economic and military dominance after 1945 and also, on the other side of the coin, the Stalinist model of socialist development failed to live up to it's own Marxist Ideology. These changes were a great contributing factor in the downfall of Marxism.
This theory however as some have argued has emerged from social disorganisation theory, which sees the causes of crime as a matter of macro level disadvantage. Macro level disadvantage are the following: low socioeconomic status, ethnic or racial heterogeneity, these things they believe are the reasons for crime due to the knock on effect these factors have on the community network and schools. Consequently, if th...
1 Most sociologists interpret social life from one of three major theoretical frameworks or theories: symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, or conflict theory. Describe the major points and key concepts of each framework. List at least one sociologist who is identified with each of these three frameworks.
The social structure theories suggest that social and economic forces in poor areas can lead individuals in these communities into criminal behavior patterns. The social structure theorists believe that social conditions influence an individual’s control behavior choices
The interaction of people and their environment provide both opportunities for crimes to be committed and motivation for an individual to commit a crime (Schiller, Black, & Murphy 2010).
The causes of crime seem to be indefinite and ever changing. In the 19th century, slum poverty was blamed; in the 20th century, a childhood without love was blamed (Adams 152). In the era going into the new millennium, most experts and theorists have given up all hope in trying to pinpoint one single aspect that causes crime. Many experts believe some people are natural born criminals who are born with criminal mindsets, and this is unchangeable. However, criminals are not a product of heredity. They are a product of their environment and how they react to it. This may seem like a bogus assumption, but is undoubtedly true.
When it comes to comprehending or understanding any concept to why individuals may do some of the things they do, there are social theories out there to help better explain those actions. Sociological theories help to focus more on the aspect of social life, as well as explain behaviors that can be driven by passion, tradition, self-interest, religion, and the laws we have set out today in stone. “Unlike scientific theories, social theories tend to be more evaluative and critical than the theories in the natural sciences” (Appelrouth A. S.; Edles D. L 2012) Today, an analytical frame is used to help guide the comparing and contrasting of the several theoretical perspectives and traditions. In simpler terms, this four way frame is basically used to help compare and contrast theorist better. There are four main cells that make up this analytical frame which include, individual-rational, individual-nonrational, collective-rational, and collective-nonrational. Also included into this basic theoretical orientation or framework, are the core classical theorists. Those influential theorists included into the framework are Mead, who falls into the individual-nonrational side, Durkheim whom falls into the collective-nonrational side, Weber whom falls into the collective-rational side, and Marx who is also included into the collective-rational side.
Different schools of thought propose varying theoretical models of criminality. It is agreeable that criminal behaviour is deep rooted in societies and screams for attention. Biological, Social ecological and psychological model theories are key to helping researchers gain deeper comprehension of criminal behaviour and ways to avert them before they become a menace to society. All these theories put forward a multitude of factors on the outlooks on crime. All these theories have valid relevancy to continuous research on criminal behaviour.