1. Chapter 6 Social Structure Theory
Criminology 9TH Edition
Larry J. Siegel
© 2003 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

2. Questions What is a stratified society?
What is the culture of poverty?
How do these two issues affect
class, race, and culture?

3. Social Structure Theories
Criminal Behavior Patterns
Are Affected By:
Places - Places not people cause crime, i.e., deteriorated lower-class areas.
Socioeconomic placement in society can influence the potential for criminal behavior, i.e., unable to attain social or economic success.

4. Social Structure Theories: The Underlying Premise
The real crime problem is a lower class phenomenon.
Those that live in equivalent social environments tend to behave in a predictable fashion. If the environment did not affect human behavior, then crime rates would be dispersed equally across the social structure.

5. The Three Branches of Social Structure Theory

6. Social Disorganization Theory

7. Social Disorganization Theory: Concentric Zone Theory
MAJOR PREMISE
Crime is a product of
transitional neighborhoods
that manifest
social disorganization
and value conflict.
STRENGTHS
Identifies why crime rates
are highest in slum areas.
Points out the factors that
produce crime. Suggests
programs to help
reduce crime.

8. Shaw and McKay’s Concentric Zones Map of Chicago

9. Factors That Affect Crime The Social Ecology School
Transitional neighborhoods
Community deterioration
Poverty concentration
Employment opportunities
Community fear, i.e., race, gangs, mistrust.
Community change
Collective efficacy, i.e., informal, institutional, and public social control

10. Social Disorganization Theories

11. Question According to social disorganization theory, how does fear
affect a ‘disorganized’ neighborhood?

12. Strain Theories Crime is a direct result of the
frustration and anger of the lower-class
to achieve culturally defined goals,
i.e., wealth, success, power;
however,
the means to acquire these goals
are stymied by the stratification
of class and status in society.

13. The Basic Components of Strain Theory

14. Anomie
Durkheim: Norms have broken down because of rapid social change, i.e., traditions and values.
Merton: Culturally defined goals and socially approved means for obtaining them have broken down, i.e., education and hard work.
Messner and Rosenfeld: The American Dream as a goal and a process. Crime becomes the strategy for attaining wealth.

15. Why would Durkheim suggest that crime may be beneficial to society?
Question
Why would Durkheim suggest that crime
may be beneficial to society?

16. Strain Theory: Anomie Major Premise Strengths
People who adopt the goals of
society but lack the means to attain them
seek alternatives, such as crime.
Major Premise
Points out how competition for success creates
conflict and crime. Suggests that social conditions
and not personality can account for crime.
Can explain middle- and upper-class crime.
Strengths

17. Elements of General Strain Theory

18. Strain Theory: General Strain Theory
Strain has a variety of sources.
Strain causes crime in the absence
of adequate coping mechanisms.
Major Premise
Identifies the complexities of strain in modern
society. Expands on anomie theory.
Shows the influence of social events
on behavior over the life course.
Strengths

19. Sources of General Strain (Individual)
Social: peer or social group.
Community factors: ecological, i.e., goals, economic deprivation, interaction of frustrated individuals.
Negative affective states: failure to achieve goals or expectations, the loss of positive stimuli, i.e., friend or family member; and, presentation of negative stimuli, i.e., abuse. Causes: fear, anger, depression, frustration, and disappointment.

20. Relative Deprivation Theory
Perceptions of economic and social inequality lead to feelings of envy, mistrust, and aggression
Lower-class people feel both deprived and embittered
Minorities feel relative deprivation more acutely than non-minorities

21. Strain Theories

22. Questions How would trait theories interact with strain theories?
Could strain theories explain chronic offending?
If so, in what way?

23. CULTURAL DEVIANCE THEORY I Combines the Effects of: STRAIN and SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION

24. What are the elements of cultural deviance theory?
Question
What are the elements of
cultural deviance theory?

25. Elements of Cultural Deviance Theory

26. Cultural Deviance Theory: Sellin’s Culture Conflict Theory
STRENGTHS
Identifies the aspects of lower-class life that produce street crime. Adds to Shaw and McKay’s analysis.
Creates the concept of culture conflict
MAJOR PREMISE
Obedience to the norms of their lower-class culture puts people in conflict
with the norms
of the dominant culture.

27. Questions According to Walter Miller, what are the “focal concerns”
or values that affect lower-class culture.
How do these “focal concerns” affect
the lower-class and crime?

28. Cultural Deviance Theories

29. Are Social Structure Theories Valid or Invalid?
Those who believe they are valid point to:
high crime and delinquency rates in inner-city slums
each branch seems to support and amplify the others
appearance that the concepts may be interdependent
Those who believe they are invalid point to:
lower-class crime rates may be artifacts of bias
a significant number of people living in the slums are not criminal
it’s questionable whether a distinct lower-class culture actually exists