A person isn’t born a criminal but becomes one over time, often based on factors in his or her social environment. Proponents of social disorganization theory believe that individuals who grow up in impoverished areas are more likely to participate in deviant or criminal behaviors than an individual from a wealthy neighborhood with a good school system and families who are involved positively in the community. Social disorganization theory points to broad social factors as the cause of deviance. P ark, a journalist and sociologist, suggested a program to increase the number of playgrounds to counteract social disorganization and juvenile delinquency. They studied deviance by examining rapid changes to the neighborhoods, caused by population increases, immigration, and urbanization in Chicago. Several sociologists at the time, who viewed the city as a laboratory for study, were dubbed “The Chicago School.” These sociologists included Robert Park and Ernest Burgess (19) became the first to utilize an ecological approach, which examined society much as an ecologist examines an organism and their environment-by paying attention to the social, institutional, and cultural contexts of people-environment relations. A key example of this dynamic is the Civil Rights Movement, which corrected many historical wrongs by continuously challenging the dominant society’s values and norms.ĭeveloped by researchers at the University of Chicago in the 1920s and 1930s, social disorganization theory asserts that crime is most likely to occur in communities with weak social ties and the absence of social control.
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On the other hand, when norm violations became more widespread and collective, as a result of various historical and cultural factors (i.e. war in Vietnam, other social movements, televised police brutality, etc.), this cycle of continued deviance eventually led to social and legal change. Norm violators were often severely punished, even lynched, which led to increased social bonds among racist whites. Those who violated these norms reinforced their legitimacy for those in power, which often led to even harsher laws and sanctions, which in turn led to increased conformity or adherence to the norms. Émile Durkheim believed that deviance is a necessary part of a successful society and that it serves three functions: 1) it clarifies norms and increases conformity, 2) it strengthens social bonds among the people reacting to the deviant, and 3) it can help lead to positive social change and challenges to people’s present views (1893).įor instance, segregation laws remained intact for nearly a century in the United States after slavery was abolished. Émile Durkheim: The Essential Nature of Deviance Social disorganization theory, strain theory, and social control theory represent the main functionalist perspectives on deviance in society. They view deviance as a key component of a functioning society.
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Sociologists who follow the functionalist approach are concerned with the way the different elements of a society contribute to the whole. (Photo courtesy of David Shankbone/flickr) Functionalism Protesters, such as these PETA members, often use this method to draw attention to their cause. Explain functionalist views on devianceįigure 1. Functionalists believe that deviance plays an important role in society and can be used to challenge people’s views.