Sociological_Theorizing

Theresa Crawford 04/03/10 CJ133- Criminology Engle Week 3 Chapter 7 & 8 Review Questions 1) The nature of the sociological theorizing is the existing power relationships between social groups and in the influences that various social phenomena bring to bear on the types of behaviors that tend to characterize groups of people. The assumptions on which sociological perspectives rest are: * Social groups, social institutions, the arrangements of society, and social roles all provide the proper focus for criminological study. * Group dynamics, group organization, and subgroup relationships form the causal nexus out of which crime develops. * The structure of society and its relative degree of organization or disorganization are important factors contributing to the prevalence of criminal behavior. * Although it may be impossible to predict the specific behavior of a given individual, statistical estimates of group characteristics are possible. Hence, the probability that a member of a given group will engage in a specific type of crime can be estimated. The three key sociological explanations are: * Crime is the result of an individual’s location within the structure of society * Crime is the end product of various social processes, especially inappropriate socialization and social learning. * Crime is the product of class struggle 2) The term social structure is meant by sociologists as the pattern of social organization and the interrelationships among institutions characteristic of a society or institutional arrangements within society. Criminality is recognized as a form of acquired behavior, however, it is depicted as the end result of social injustice, racism, and feelings of disenfranchisement to which existing societal arrangements give rise. 3) The three types of social structure theories are social disorganization theory, strain theory, and culture conflict theory. The social disorganization theory is a perspective on crime and deviance that sees society as a kind of organism and crime and deviance as a kind of disease or social pathology. The strain theory is a sociological approach that posits a disjuncture between socially and sub culturally sanctioned means and goals as the cause of criminal behavior. The culture conflict theory suggests that the root cause of criminality can be found in a clash of values between differently socialized groups over what is acceptable or proper behavior. 4) The policy implications of the three theories are theoretical approaches that fault social structure as the root cause of crime point in the direction of social action as a panacea. The changes in society and in government policy are based on the Chicago Area Project, Mobilization for Youth, and the war on poverty in the 1960’s. 5) The short comings of the social structure approach to understanding and preventing crime is the sub cultural approach has been criticized for being racist because many so called violent subcultures are said to be populated by minorities. Empirical studies have consistently found weak or nonexistent correlations between an individual’s socioeconomic status and his or her self-reported delinquency. Social scientists unnecessarily downplay the causative role of non sociological factors. Some see the inability of social structure theories to predict which individuals will turn to crime as a crucial failure of such perspectives. These short comings can be overcome because the large majority of people growing up in the inter-city probably experience an inequitable opportunity, only a small number of those people become criminal. Chapter 8 review questions 1) The process of social interaction contributes to criminal behavior because criminal behavior is learned by the interaction with others, and the socialization process that occurs as the result of group membership is seen as the primary route through which learning occurs. 2) The various social process perspectives are social learning theory, social control theory, labeling theory, reintegrative shaming, and dramaturgy. The learning theory places primary emphasis on the role of communication and socialization in the acquisition of learned patterns of criminal behavior and the values that support that behavior. Control theory focuses on the strength of the bond that people share with the institutions and individuals around them. Labeling theory points to the special significance of society’s response to the criminal. Reintegrative shaming emphasizes possible outcomes of the labeling process. Dramaturgy demonstrates how people can effectively manage the impressions they make on others. 3) The social policy initiatives that are based in social process theories of crime causation are the office of Juvenile and Delinquency, Juvenile Mentoring Program, and Preparing for the Drug Free Years. 4) The shortcomings of the social process perspective are those who rarely associate with recognized deviants may still turn to crime. Differential association alone is not a sufficient explanation for crime. 5) The various social development perspectives are human development. Human development refers to the relationship between the maturing individual and his or her changing environment and to the social processes that relationship entails. 6) The central concept of social development theories are social development theories focus more on individual rates of offending and seek to understand both increase and decreases in rates of offending over the individual’s lifetime. Social development theories generally employ longitudinal measurements of delinquency and offending. Social development theories recognize that a critical transitional period occurs as a person moves from childhood to adulthood. 7) The social policy initiatives that might be suggested by social development perspectives are the development of the Comprehensive Strategy Program and Targeted Outreach.