Social Disorganization and Strain Theories - Assignment Example

Social Disorganization and Strain Theories No: Social Disorganization and Strain Theories What does it mean to say that a community is "socially disorganized"? How might these theories help to explain the occurrence of street violence in todays inner-city communities? How might social disorganization theory explain the behavior of Silvio and Armando in chapter 4 of Fire in the Ashes (Kozol)? Be sure to explain social disorganization theory before applying to the scenario. Social disorganization theory describes the features about community involvement in the crime rate increase. The socially disorganized communities are economically dispossessed, populated, containing multiunit accommodations like flats or apartments, having elevated mobility rate of residents and containing families with family issues such as separations or divorces or having single parents. Such communities are not only disorganized, but also play a role in increased causation of crime. Parents in such communities are usually poor and are unable to socialize their children against crime. They wait for the time when they get a chance to change their community. The people of such communities do not work towards welfare of community as they are over burdened with their own family issues (McNeeley, 2014). The inner city areas are largely inhabited by minorities that are usually discriminated and poor form socially disorganized communities. The increase in such communities is because of reduced employment opportunities, reduced wages, migration of people and governmental policies with lacking social services to the poor. The social disorganization theories cannot only explain the occurrence of street violence in todays inner-city communities, but also offer ways to organize such communities. The delinquent activities such as street violence can be deterred by attending to the root causes of crime by analyzing the theories and reading the behavior of criminals in the light of their placement in socially disorganized setups (McNeeley, 2014). The behavior of Silvio and Armando is explainable in the light of social disorganization theory. Ariella, their mother, a single parent got homeless with her children after which, she got into a community of homeless people. As described by the social disorganization theory, these communities contain homeless, poor, economically deprived and people with family issues, so Ariella’s family was one among them. She tried to take care of her children by taking them to museums, concerts and restaurants, but their residing places were usually more crime affected. People in the communities where they lived used to sell drugs, steal from people and drink. There were incidents of raping and child abuse. The community was careless and slum (Kozol, 2012). Silvio got involved in criminal acts such as stealing, fighting and making criminals heroes and got killed in a train accident. Armando, his second brother made Silvio his hero and also got involved in crimes such as drug selling, drinking, and drug taking, fighting and getting in trouble with the police, resulting in multiple imprisonments (Kozol, 2012). Therefore, it is quite clear that the socially disorganized community in which, both of them led their lives made them criminals as they witnessed much criminal acts around them and social control forces were less. The socially disorganized communities fostered criminal behavior of Silvio and Armando. 2. Using chapter 4 in Fire in the Ashes (Kozol), how would the following strain theorists explain Silvio and Armando’s criminal activity: Robert Merton; Messner and Rosenfeld; and Robert Agnew? In order to explain the criminal behavior you must first be able to discuss the key tenets of the theories. Robert Merton’s strain or anomie theory can be explained as based on American Dream. According to Merton, the American struggle towards attainment of economic success caused elevated delinquency and crime rate. The goal of economic success became ultimate for the people and the concept of legal or illegal steps towards attainment of goal were underrated. The cultural norms of attainment of goal through legal means are weakened causing anomie or strain. By placing extreme value on economic success, the normative standards of right or wrong are deteriorated. Therefore, people tend to be delinquent or criminals based on their struggle to economic success with flawed normative standards (Agnew, 2011). Messner and Rosenfeld accepted the American dream relation to American culture formation, however, they contend that American society had place major attention to the institution of economy ignoring other significant social institutions such as education, family, religion and so on due to which, imbalance is created in the American society. People try to acquire what is desirable neglecting other crucial parts of society. Therefore, the institutional Anomie theory state that pressure to attain monetary gains culturally in collaboration with weak non-economic social institutions encourage elevated rate of criminality in the society (Messner & Rosenfeld, 2012). Agnew’s general strain theory states that any kind of strain can result in depressing emotions that can lead to consequences involving crime. Strains are there because of inability to attain valued objectives such as economic success, losing some valued property or as a result of physical or psychological abuse. Strains are regarded unjust and can lead to delinquency. People who undergo strain of any kind can experience negative feelings leading to annoyance, offense, hopelessness or fretfulness and uncontrollable stress. Such reactions can become a reason for crime (Agnew, 2011). The first and foremost problem highlighted in the narration of Silvio and Armando is their homelessness, poverty and their dependence on low level community life that have dragged them towards crime (Kozol, 2012). Merton’s strain or anomie theory lays stress on structuring of American society on economic success by prioritizing materialistic concerns above anything else. Silvio and Armando are parts of such society that gives utmost importance to money. Silvio becomes a thief, steals his mother’s paycheck and so on. Likewise, Armando sells drugs and steals, all of which are ways of monetary gains through illegal means (Kozol, 2012). Therefore, both of them follow flawed normative standards of their own community. Messner and Rosenfeld theory is also applicable here because both the boys prioritize money over any other social institution and fell prey to delinquency. Agnew’s general strain theory describes strains as the reasons behind delinquent behavior. Both Silvio and Armando lead a life with different kinds of strains that have dragged them to appear delinquent. They are unable to exercise self-control and become sociable. References Agnew, R. (2011). Revitalizing Merton: General strain theory. The origins of American criminology, 16, 137-158. Kozol, Jonathan. (2012). Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years among the Poorest Children in America. New York: Crown. McNeeley, S. (2014). Social Disorganization Theory. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Messner, S., & Rosenfeld, R. (2012). Crime and the American dream. Cengage Learning. Read More