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Anomie Theory Of Crime

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Crime can be dated back to many centuries ago in the history of the United States. Although types and definitions of crime have evolved over time, the crime itself has and continues to be viewed negatively by society. In addition, crime rates are never the same and have varied throughout history. So what factors deter or increase crime? This question has also been asked and studied by several throughout time. For instance, to determine crime rates, the four school of thoughts (the Chicago School, Differential Association/Social Learning, Anomie, and Strain theories) have studied crime rate and factors that surround crime. There are multiple studies conducted on crime but recently this large city that has made dramatic changes to its crime statistic …show more content…

To have a better understanding of crime rate “social disorganization” was utilized. The social disorganization theory consisted of poverty, rapid population growth, heterogeneity, and physical issues. Shaw and McKay determined that neighborhoods with the highest crime rate usually faced poverty and heterogeneity. Overall, The Chicago School determined that economic and environmental factors were probably reasons for juvenile delinquency in urban …show more content…

Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox (2014) state that when society fails to provide legitimate and legal means for individuals to obtain the goal of monetary success, individuals then turn to other means to achieve such goals. When individuals come across these stressors and strains, they turn to crime to reduce such stressors and strains. Baron (2011) conducted a study that examined the relationship between monetary goals and the amount of commitment to legal/legitimate factors that impact crime. Unreachable opportunities, monetary unhappiness, society support, risks taken, and other factors were considered in this study when examining the relationship between monetary goals and the actual commitment that impact crime. This study took place in Toronto, Canada and three hundred homeless youths living in the streets were interviewed. Results indicate that the relationship between the ability to engage in crimes, monetary goals, and a low ability to commit legitimate/legal means is a result of legal and legitimate opportunities that are available to reach monetary goals and the amount that unhappiness individuals feel towards these monetary goals. In conclusion, Anomie theory focuses on individuals reason to commit criminal offenses but not all individuals in the same society turn to crime to reach monetary

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