Criminology Chapter 7
Sociological Mainstream Theories
• Anomie Theories
• Social Process Theories
• Social Control Theories
• Developmental and life course (DLC) theories
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
• Insisted on primacy of groups and social organizations in understanding human behavior
• Specifically, linked crime to broader social changes
Anomic: normlessness in society
Robert Merton
Theory of anomie
Anomie/strain: Results from discrepancy between societal goals and the means available to
achieve them.
Modes of adaptation: conformist, innovator, ritualism, retreats, rebel
Robert Agnew
General strain theory
Strain: anger or frustration that result from negative relationships or experiences.
Leads to crime in order to:
• Regain
• Retaliate
• Escape
Albert Cohen
• Lower-class reaction Theory (1955)
• Views lower-class delinquency as non-utilitarian, malicious, and negativistic.
Cloward and Ohlin
• Differential opportunity theory (1960)
• Forms of adaptation depends upon the availability of illegitimate opportunities
• Illegitimate opportunities are dependent on locally available criminal traditions.
• Three kinds of subcultures: Criminal, Conflict, Retreatist (double-Failures)
Critique of Anomic Theories: overall, these are strong, important theories, but: Merton’s
theory: too focused on monetary goals, and crimes involving monetary goals.
Cohen’s Theory: too focused on Lower-class, and on stress related to class. Cloward and
Ohlin’s theory: Too focused on lower-class; subculture typology too simplistic.
Social Process theories emphasize criminality as a learned or culturally transmitted process.
The Chicago School: School of thought associated w/ the University of Chicago sociology
progam.
Shaw and McKay
• Social Disorganization Theory (1942)
• Premise: crime rooted in social disorganization
• Used maps and official statistics
• Found crime highest in “zone of transition”
• This was stable, even after complete turnovers of the population.
Cohen and Felson
• Routine Activities theory (1979)
This study source was downloaded by 100000843952123 from CourseHero.com on 04-02-2022 09:27:28 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/8515265/Criminology-Chapter-7/
Sociological Mainstream Theories
• Anomie Theories
• Social Process Theories
• Social Control Theories
• Developmental and life course (DLC) theories
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
• Insisted on primacy of groups and social organizations in understanding human behavior
• Specifically, linked crime to broader social changes
Anomic: normlessness in society
Robert Merton
Theory of anomie
Anomie/strain: Results from discrepancy between societal goals and the means available to
achieve them.
Modes of adaptation: conformist, innovator, ritualism, retreats, rebel
Robert Agnew
General strain theory
Strain: anger or frustration that result from negative relationships or experiences.
Leads to crime in order to:
• Regain
• Retaliate
• Escape
Albert Cohen
• Lower-class reaction Theory (1955)
• Views lower-class delinquency as non-utilitarian, malicious, and negativistic.
Cloward and Ohlin
• Differential opportunity theory (1960)
• Forms of adaptation depends upon the availability of illegitimate opportunities
• Illegitimate opportunities are dependent on locally available criminal traditions.
• Three kinds of subcultures: Criminal, Conflict, Retreatist (double-Failures)
Critique of Anomic Theories: overall, these are strong, important theories, but: Merton’s
theory: too focused on monetary goals, and crimes involving monetary goals.
Cohen’s Theory: too focused on Lower-class, and on stress related to class. Cloward and
Ohlin’s theory: Too focused on lower-class; subculture typology too simplistic.
Social Process theories emphasize criminality as a learned or culturally transmitted process.
The Chicago School: School of thought associated w/ the University of Chicago sociology
progam.
Shaw and McKay
• Social Disorganization Theory (1942)
• Premise: crime rooted in social disorganization
• Used maps and official statistics
• Found crime highest in “zone of transition”
• This was stable, even after complete turnovers of the population.
Cohen and Felson
• Routine Activities theory (1979)
This study source was downloaded by 100000843952123 from CourseHero.com on 04-02-2022 09:27:28 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/8515265/Criminology-Chapter-7/
