Analysis of Shaw & McKay’s Theory of Social Organization

Introduction

In 1942, two criminology researchers, Clifford Shaw and Henry D. McKay, from the “Chicago School” of Criminology, developed social disorganization theory through their research. “Social disorganization refers to the inability of a community to realize the common values of its members and maintain effective social controls” (Kubrin & Wo, 2016). The theory states that behavioral choices than an individual makes are primarily influenced by the individual’s physical and social environments. Shaw and McKay delved at linking life in urban areas, which are disorganized and transitional, to neighborhood crime rates (Wickes and Sydes, 2017). Their research was primarily influenced by the works of Chicago School sociologist Robert Park and Ernest Burgess, who had previously conducted an ecological analysis of life in Chicago. 

Main Point of the Social Disorganization Theory

Shaw and McKay used the context of changing the urban environment and its influence on the urban dwelling to explain crime and delinquency (Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services, N.d). The core of social disorganization theory is that location has a significant influence on the behavior of an individual or the society in general and can be used to predict illegal activities. Shaw and McKay found out that locations that had the highest crime rates were associated with three common problems; a higher level of ethnic and culture mixing, poverty, and physical dilapidation. The theory links high crimes rates to the ecological characteristics of the neighborhood such as racial heterogeneity, family disruption, residential mobility, and poverty (Miller, 2009). The theory is widely used to predict youth violence and crime. 

Assumptions on which the Social Disorganization Theory is based

The social disorganization theory is based on four specific assumptions as an explanation to delinquency; the collapse of community based-based controls in the disadvantaged neighborhood making individuals respond naturally to these environmental conditions, the neighborhoods are disadvantaged by the rapid growth of immigration, the “ecological approach” of competition a dominance influences the business located close to the disadvantaged neighborhoods, disadvantaged urban neighborhoods result in the development of criminal values (Crum, 2003). The theory indicates that the residential location of an individual is more significant compared to the characteristics of the person. The theory also suggests that juveniles who live in these disadvantaged neighborhoods acquire criminality by the approval of the culture within these areas. 

Application of Social Disorganization Theory

Since the theory of social disorganization was introduced, it has received much attention within the criminology discipline. The original findings of Shaw and McKay have been duplicated through many studies in the largest cities of the United States. The theory is very significant as it can help the government as well as law enforcement policymakers to make sound decisions to form strategies that can be used to prevent criminal activity in communities that are disadvantaged so that the areas become safer for all. 

Casual Mechanism of Shaw and McKay’s (1942) Theory of Disorganization

The social disorganization theory was intended to be applied to street crimes at the neighborhood level and not to all types of crimes. The theory links high crimes rates to the ecological characteristics of the neighborhood such as racial heterogeneity, family disruption, residential mobility, and poverty (Miller, 2009). All the above mentioned ecological characteristics are the core elements of the social disorganization theory. This section will discuss in detail the four core elements of the social disorganization theory. 

Poverty

Poverty refers to the state of an individual is extremely poor. Mostly, lack of employment opportunities results in a lack of wealth. Low employment opportunities lead to economic deprivation which in turn leads to social disorganization (Ciobanu, 2016). This further leads to crime to the disadvantaged neighborhood or community. There are numerous other theories which support the impact poverty can have on communities’ crime rates. One such theory is The Strain Theory developed by Robert K, Merton in 1938. Lack of employment opportunities leads to poverty and as a result, it makes people turn to other means of satisfying their material as well as financial needs in an antisocial way (Prajapat, 2014). Thus, an incentive that focus on poor areas and that seeks to create employment opportunities ought to be employed. 

Racial Heterogeneity

Racial heterogeneity is related to the diverseness of races with a locality. According to the theory of social disorganization, crime activities are prevalent in societies in which methods of social control are weakened. It is believed that racial heterogeneity together with urbanization mostly weakens the control of an individual (Ciobanu, 2016). This is because it tends to lower the effectiveness of the individual to communicate and interact with others. Primarily, racial separation is due to lack of knowledge and media which often use some races as scapegoats for certain crimes. This results in moral panic within the society singling out the particular race which, in turn, increases the chances of the individuals to engage in criminal activities. 

Residential Mobility

Residence mobility refers to the rate at which people change their residence. This core element has proven to explain the social disorganization theory. This is because the theory has successfully explained gang crime, automobile theft, and sexual re-offending. In the research, Shaw and McKay noted that societies which are socially disorganized tended to result in “criminal tradition” that can be passed to the generations that follow, because of the lack residential mobility (Ciobanu, 2016). The reason for the people to find it hard to re-locate range from financial constraints to fear of leaving that community. Residential mobility was found to have a close relationship with poverty in research on the social disorganization theory. 

Family Disruption

Within the theory of social disorganization, the family has upheld to be the principal process. Social disorganization can impact crime as it specifically affects the structure and stability of a family (Ciobanu, 2016). Though family can be utilized to lessen the negative impact of social disorganization, many research indicates that it can influence the level of crime. “Weak families and lack of effective guardianship lead to increased crime” (Bguillen, 2012). Parenting practices mediate the correlation between delinquency and disorganized community. The numerous ways in family disruption influences delinquency include; influencing parental discipline and the level of attachment to the father. 

Research or Scientific Support for Shaw and McKay’s (1942) Theory of Disorganization

There are numerous research studies which support Shaw and McKay’s Theory of Disorganization. A study conducted by Schreck, McGloin, and Kirk indicates that neighborhood that is disadvantaged characterized by a void of cohesion, as well as social instability, will have higher crime rates (2009). The researchers argue that a void of cohesive and integrated social networks limits can result in a violent subculture. “A void of integrated and cohesive social networks can promote a violent subculture since it limits opportunities for other criminal enterprise and the neighborhood has a limited capacity to control youth violence” (Schreck, McGloin, and Kirk, 2009). Thus, the study support Shaw and McKay theory of disorganization as it shows a correlation between a disadvantaged neighborhood and the increasing rates of criminal activities. 

Kawalerowicz and Biggs identified three factors to explain the reasons for looting; lack of education, unemployment, and poverty (2011). As seen Kawalerowicz and Biggs uses the same mechanisms used by Shaw and McKay to explain the motive behind the individual criminal activity. According to their study Kawalerowicz and Biggs state, the subjects under his study has more to gain from looting, and lose less in case they are convicted for their crimes. The research support Shaw and McKay theory of social disorganization as it indicates that disadvantaged neighborhoods primarily contributes to the increase in crimes in the areas. 

A study conducted by Blau and Blau indicates that latent animosities which are characterized by social disorganization are created when economic inequalities are associated with race (1982). In societies that value disorganization, such ascriptions are perceived to be illegitimate. The visible marker of race makes this situation more salient. This results in socially structured inequalities which in turn causes alienation, hopelessness, frustration, and resentment. These feelings lead to social disorganization, and in turn lead criminal activities (Blau and Blau, 1982). Their findings support Shaw’s and McKay’s social disorganization theory. 

Explaining Street-Level Violence Today

A crime is a feature of every society, and the increasing complexity of human society has led to many forms of criminality. This calls for the urgent need of policies that can be used to control crime to be inextricably linked to the efforts made to understand the rook factors the lead to crime. Policy planners, as well as criminologists, have developed numerous theories that delve at explaining the causes of crimes. The social disorganization theory developed by Shaw and McKay links disadvantaged neighborhoods to crimes activities. The social disorganization theory was intended to be applied to street crimes, and it links high crimes rates to the ecological characteristics of the neighborhood such as racial heterogeneity, family disruption, residential mobility, and poverty. 

As seen, racial heterogeneity, family disruption, residential mobility, poverty and numerous other factors as the root causes of most of the criminal activities committed in our societies today. The racial gap in criminal behaviors is intensified since the African-American community is more disadvantage when compared to the White communities. This core element explains the association of the African-American community with gun-related violence seen in the United States today. The social disorganization theory can best be used to explain as well as predict future violence in a society. The core elements covered by the theory best explains the reasons behind the violence committed by disadvantaged individuals. 

According to the theory, criminal activities are neither equally likely in all societies and tend to be frequent in disadvantaged communities. Though the theory does not address the basic motivations behind violent activities, it indicates that high crime rates are prevalent in divided communities. At present, the social disorganization theory remains a very strong theory, and it can be used to explain violent activities that correspond to the structure of a neighbor. Criminologists can explain the street-level violence by understanding the structure of a community. Through this, a correction factor can be employed to minimized or eliminate the rate of criminal activities in the societies. 

Conclusion

As seen, social disorganization theory is a very significant theory that can be used to explain as well as predict youth violence and crime. Social disorganization significantly impacts youth crime and violence. This is because it affects numerous mediating processes that result in youth violence. Criminologists and law enforcement agencies ought to consider the linkages between racial heterogeneity, family disruption, residential mobility, and poverty and social disorganization to explain the genesis of crimes and violence. 

References

Bguillen. (2012). Social Disorganization Theory. [Online]. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/bguillen/power-point-theory . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Ciobanu, D. (2016). Social Disorganization Theory: The Role of Diversity in New Jersey’s Hate Crimes. [Online]. Available at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3821&context=dissertations . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Crum, B. (2003). Social Disorganization Theory and Crime in West Virginia. [Online]. Available at: https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1554&context=etd . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Kawalerowicz, J., and Biggs, M. (2011). Anarchy in the UK: Economic Deprivation, Social Disorganization, and Political Grievances in the London Riot of 2011. [Online]. Available at: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~sfos0060/2011.pdf . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Kubrin, Charis., and Wo, J. (2016). Social Disorganization Theory’s Greatest Challenge: Linking Structural Characteristics to Crime in Socially Disorganized Communities. [Online]. Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/62b6/1bb9099c49c0056409e9948c30216b5d9ec5.pdf . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Miller, M. (2009). 21 st Century Criminology: A Reference Handbook, Volume 1. Thousand Oak: California. SAGE Publications, Inc. 

Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. [Online]. Available at: http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/professionals/oyap/roots/volume5/chapter04_social_disorganization.aspx . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Prajapat, P. (2014). PPT for Social Disorganization Theory. [Online]. Available at: https://www.slideshare.net/prakashprajapat7587/ppt-for-social-disorganisation-theory . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Schreck, C., McGloin, J., & Kirk, D. (2009). On the Origins of the Violent Neighborhood: A Study of the Nature and Predictors of Crime-Type Differentiation across Chicago Neighborhoods. [Online]. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240525084_On_the_Origins_of_the_Violent_Neighborhood_A_Study_of_the_Nature_and_Predictors_of_Crime-Type_Differentiation_across_Chicago_Neighborhoods . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019. 

Wickes, R., Sydes, M. (2017). Social Disorganization Theory. [Online]. Available Theory: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756384/obo-9780199756384-0192.xml . Accessed 23 rd Feb 2019.