PositivismBiological and Psychological PositivismFocus on individualSociological PositivismFocus is on environmental factorsEarliest theories focused on economic differencesEconomic Structure and CrimeSocial StratificationClassification of people into groups based on social classSocial ClassGroup of people who share similar economic situations/valuesEconomic ConditionsPovertyUnemploymentEconomic InequalityPoverty Trends in the USNumber of people in poverty is at all-time highPoverty rate is relatively stableChildren are most likely to be impoverishedElderly most likely not to be impoverished (social security, Medicare, etc.)Historical Background1827, France: First social statistics publishedCrime stats were astonishingly regularRegularity suggested crime influenced by societal factors, and not entirely due to “free will”Changing these social factors may reduce crimeThe Moral StatisticiansAndre-Michel GuerryAdolphe QueteletEcological SchoolScientific measurement of external factorsTransition from philosophical to scientificHistorical Background, Cont.Andre Michel GuerryFirst work in scientific criminologyWealth and crimeHigher property crime in wealthy areasEducation and CrimeHigher violent crime in most educated areasEcological mapsAdolphe QueteletObserved regularity in inCrimes across timeCrime and age, gender, social class, educationCrime and economic conditions“Social mechanics”Historical Background: QueteletPossible explanationsWealthy cities provide opportunitiesWealth inequality provokes passionsIncreased education did not reduce crimeMoral defectivenessPropensity to engage in crime reflects moral characterCrime is an inevitable feature of social organizationEnhance “moral” education and improve social conditionsCame to believe moral defectiveness due to biological factorsResearch on Crime and PovertyRelationship studied for 200+ yearsCrime and Business CycleEconomic Booms and BustsResearch is mixedEconomic Expansion in the US1960s/70s: Increasing crime rates1990s: Dropping crime ratesThere are still poor people during economic boomsAlternative measuresPercent of people living below poverty lineStructural povertyConcentrated disadvantage/povertyResearch is inconsistent and contradictoryUnemploymentCommon belief that unemployment crimeBusiness cycle unemployment poverty crimeUnemployment and Juvenile DelinquencyAdult unemployment and juvenile delinquencyInverseDirectYouth unemployment and juvenile delinquencyInverse or direct?Research is mixedEconomic InequalityEvidence of a direct relationshipCrime in developing nationsRapid population growth inequality crimeThe USA1980s: increase in wealth, inequality, violent crime1990s: increase in wealth, stable inequality, crime dropDifficulties Interpreting the Econ-Crime RelationshipPoverty is always partly a subjective conditionThere are two possible relationshipsBad economy = more crimeGood economy = more crimeInstant or lagged effects?At what point do economic conditions affect crime?What should be the unit of analysis?Neighborhoods, cities, states, etc.Economic conditions felt more at NH levelHigh crime areas experience multiple problemsMulticollinearityPoverty vs. Economic InequalityAbsolute vs. relativeSocial Structure TheoriesDisadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crimeThree branchesSocial disorganizationAnomie/StrainCultural DevianceNeighborhood conditions and crimeSocial disorganizationUnemployment, poor housing, broken families, etc.NH institutions unable to exert social controlFamilies, schools, etc.Anomie and Strain TheoriesDisjuncture between goals and meansMost people in society share the same goalsMaterial wealth, power, etc.Not everyone has the same means availableLimited opportunities for some (lower class)This goals-means discrepancy causes strainAnger, frustration, resentment, etc.This strain forces us to adapt/respondCrime is an alternate means to achieve our goalsThe Theory of Human EcologyUniversity of Chicago sociologists in the 1920sUrbanization brought social problemsWhy are there more problems in certain areas?Human EcologyStudy of humans and their community/environmentThe Chicago School of Human EcologyRobert ParkTwo key conceptsNatural areas: areas when similar people naturally flock together (ex: Little Italy, Chinatown)Invasion, Dominance, Succession (ex: Europeans invading USA and giving Native Americans diseases)Park & Burgess’ Concentric Zone TheoryThe Concentric Zone Model1. Central Business District2. Transitional Zone (Recent Immigrant Groups)Deteriorated housing, factories, abandoned buildings3. Working Class ZoneSingle family tenements4. Residential ZoneSingle family homes, yards, garages5. Commuter ZoneSuburbsThe Origins of Social Disorganization1920s: concern with crime and delinquencyClifford ShawDelinquency due to “detachment from conventional groups” NOT individual pathologyResearch StrategyEcological study; Life HistoriesShaw and McKay, 1942. Juvenile Delinquency in Urban AreasHighest crime rates in “zones in transition”Did not matter who lived thereHigh crime rates due to Social disorganizationWhat is Social Disorganization?Inability of a community to realize common values or solve community problemsCharacterized by:Sparse local networks, weak social tiesLow organizational participationTranslates into reduced informal social controlBreakdown in surveillance, socialization, and control of youthCauses of Social DisorganizationPovertyPopulation Mobility: constant turnover of people living in neighborhoodsEthnic Heterogeneity: people of many different cultures and races are together in one community and have trouble unitingPovertyMobility ---- Social Disorder Informal social ---- crimeHeterogeneity control weakenedThe Origins of Social DisorganizationLife HistoriesNH provides many opportunities for delinquencyDelinquent activities begin at an early age as playDelinquency often seen as appropriateCultural transmission of delinquencyShaw and McKay’s Conclusions and RecommendationsPlace mattersCrime not due to inferior biology or ethnic pathologyChanges must come from within the NHNecessary to develop social organizationThe Chicago Area Projectwww.chicagoproject.orgCriticisms of Social DisorderEcological fallacyAssumes a stable ecological structureIgnores external influencesOverly deterministicFeedback loopRecent Work on Neighborhoods and CrimeDynamic TheoriesChanges in neighborhoods and crime rates over timeSystemic
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