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Comparing Sociological Theories And Social Conflict Theory

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Comparing Sociological Theories
Social disorganization theory, social conflict theory, and rational choice theory are uniquely different approaches to the causes of criminal behavior. The social disorganization theory explained crime in accordance to social location whereas the social conflict theory viewed this as a natural response by individuals who were denied equal access to society's resources. However, the rational choice theory assumption behind crime was that it is an individual choice. Each of these theories provides credence to our understanding of criminal behavior, yet they all fall short of being able to explain criminal behavior fully.
Social conflict theorists operate under the assumption that criminal behavior is directly linked …show more content…

Within her research, she emphasized the importance of cultural norms on impacting the level of informal social control found with these settings. Warner concluded from her findings that concentrated neighborhood disadvantage and the level of social bonds impact cultural strength and, in turn, the level of cultural strength significantly impacts informal social control. Integrating cultural disorganization within this model provides a clearer perception of criminal …show more content…

Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2015 p. 368) conclude from their analysis of this theory that "perhaps the theory of rational choice would be bettered served by deleting the word 'rational' from its title." However, in evaluating the notion of rational risks within its theoretical framework, this conceptualization is more of an ideological model rather than a scientific paradigm.
Each of the contemporary sociological theories of criminal behavior tends to focus on crime as it exists within the poor and underprivileged neighborhoods. Social conflict theory and social disorganization theory view crime on the group level whereas rational choice theory identifies crime on the micro level based more on individual choices. Whereas social conflict views laws as developing from the conflict found within society, social disorganization theory assumes laws are formed from the consensus of the people within that

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While a few theories are not as regular, others have developed and are utilized as a part of numerous criminal reviews today. Cutting edge criminologists consolidate the most important aspects of sociology, psychology, anthropology, and biological theories to advance their comprehension of criminal behavior. Rational choice theory, psychological, biological, and strain theory are used to analyze the

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Within the past couple of decades, criminologists have developed different criminological theories that apply to the social behaviors and decisions of criminals. One of the earliest theories developed regarding criminality is the rational choice theory, in which describes the rationalization of determining if the rewards from committing the crime outweigh the consequences. In Scarver’s case, his decision to engage in criminal activities outweighed the potential consequences, or the other alternatives if he did not engage in such criminal activities. In addition to the rational choice theory, Scarver’s criminality can be related to the social disorganization theory, which describes the influence of one’s social and physical environment on one’s decision to commit a crime. Lastly, the strain theory can be related to Scarver’s criminality as well, as it is used to describe an individual who lacks the means to obtain such goals, and aspirations, so therefore, he or she engages in criminal activities to acquire the goals.

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Criminal and conflict gang whose primarily intent of crimes for tangible gains. Social structure theorists consider that the main components to illegal behavior are the ascendancy of social and economic influences that are distinguished in rundown communities where the population is predominantly lower-class citizens (Siegel, 2010). This following theory goes into helping us comprehend ways the human behavior, is the result of physical

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The social disorganization theory is how the inexplicit presumption of social disorganization is that neighborhoods characterized by economic disadvantage, high residential mobility, ethnic diversity, and more are socially disorganized. Thus, inhabiting a hardship environment causes those individuals to fall under the stereotype of “criminal” since that’s all the socially disorganized environment offers them. Of course, when it comes to racial/power dynamics and social disorganization theory, it can heavily affect communities because if the distribution of influence isn’t correct, decisions and conflicts are difficult to resolve—referring back to many eras in history where the racial/power dynamics between whites and blacks, or immigrants, were always at an all-time high. Racial/ethnic neighborhoods were on the rise with crime due to the social conditions- since there was a scarcity of trust and equality. Even more so, the communities with high disadvantages, such as unemployment, homelessness, etc., had higher corruption

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The Social Disorganization Theory Estelle Templeman Simon Fraser University CRIM 300W: Current Theories and Perspectives in Criminology Dr. Kaitlin Fredericks February 10, 2023 For the purpose of this paper I will be focusing solely on the social disorganization theory. Historical Context

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Criminology is the wider area that is used to evaluate the context of crime. The scientific study of criminals and crime is used for evaluating the basis and reasons of crime done by people. It makes use of different theories and school of thought in order to analyse the reasons behind criminal activities. The main purpose of this paper is to consider one criminology theory or school of thought. The criminology theory that is used for analysing the requirements of this paper is rational choice theory.

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Third, I will explore Farrell 's critique of Hayward 's article and consider his arguments made in response to Hayward 's conclusions. Fourth, this paper will engage in its own critique of both Hayward 's and Farrell 's work and conclude with which article makes the most compelling argument. Tenets of Rational Choice Theory and Situational Crime Prevention Rational choice theory originated in the Classical School of thinking as it is based on the ideas of utilitarianism, which states that individuals make decisions that provide the greatest pleasure, as well as the ideas of free will and rational thought (Farrell and Hodgkinson, 2015). According to Farrell and

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Rational Choice Theory There are many criminology theories about why individuals commit crimes. Some argue that crime is a learned behavior or even that individuals commit crime because they don’t have the means of achieving things, such as monetary success, so they commit crimes. A great theory as to why individuals commit crime would be rational choice theory, created in the late 1980s. Rational choice theory is a perspective that holds that criminality is the result of conscious choice and that predicts that individuals choose to commit crime when the benefits outweigh the cost of disobeying the law (Schmalleger).

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For years an answer has been searched for an important question, why do people commit crime? Philosophers have come together over the span of years to try to answer this very question. The choice theory, the trait theory, the social structure theory and many more have all had their attempt to answer such a demanding question. Many people have their own different opinions on which theory explains it the most; the one theory that makes the most sense to me is the Rational Choice Theory. This theory states that an offender simply weighs the pros and cons of being caught for an illegal activity to decide if they will do continue to go through with it or not.

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The researchers (Hart and Waller, 2013) of this study endeavors to answer two questions related to concerns about the methodology and approach used to understand deviance found in neighborhood crime and delinquency rates. The first has to do with how a neighborhood should be represented in terms of an administratively defined geographic unit. The second question addresses how and if the perceived characteristics of a neighborhood structure apply to social disorganization as opposed to better established indicators for these theories. The researchers discuss the concepts of neighborhood, neighborhood crime, and social disorganization theory in depth.

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There are numerous theories that have evolved over time to explain why crimes are committed. These theories include anomie, strained, social control, and rational choice theory. In this research paper I will be focusing on rational choice theory. Majority of these theories focus on a macro-level, which is the largest, meanwhile some focus on a micro-level, the smaller level, depending on the circumstances. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize how rational choice theory is integrate with different crimes.

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Laws do not exist for the good of all people. They represent the interests of these specific groups that have the power to get them enacted. The people that possess the power work to keep the powerless at a disadvantage. In comparing between conflict theory and social control theory, both theories support maintaining law and order in the society.

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This explanation is mainly focused on the individual, which ignores the larger social and environmental influences that affect a person’s behavior. Shaw and Mckay (1969) provide an environmental explanation for criminality. They argue that daily experiences shape behavior. Areas that have high poverty rates and high levels of social change will contain a value system that is supportive of crime. Though adults may try to impress upon their children a non-criminal value system, they compete against a number of organizations that support the criminal value

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Revision of Chapter 2: Pages 4-8 In most criminology theories there are determinate differences that drive juvenile delinquency that ideologies have tried to explain. One such approach to criminal behavior was explained through the Classical School of Criminology (Curran & Renzetti, 2001). It is explained that there is common factor among individuals when it comes to the motivation of committing crime (Nofziger, 2001). It i8s believed that people are rational and intelligent and exercise free will and calculate the benefits and costs of every act (Curran & Renzetti, 2001).

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As Hirschi (1969) noted, individuals have less propensity to be associated with delinquency if they are attached and bonded to conventional society with social bonds attachment, commitment, involvement and belief. Box (1971) added individuals become reluctant to take the calculable risks of offending as long as they felt they are socially connected and integrated. Hirschi indeed laid the foundation for latter research and tests by scholars. Even though several reviews questioned the empirical status of the theory, others concluded the theory as one of the most widely used and supported criminological theories (Kempf, 1993; Pratt et al., 2011). Andrews & Bonta (1998) also suggested that several competitors of Hirschi recognized the informal social control perspectives of the theory are vital to understanding of crime today.

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