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Social Disorganization Theory

Social disorganization theory, developed by Shaw and McKay, explores how neighbourhood factors like poverty, high residential mobility, and ethnic diversity weaken a community’s social structure, leading to increased crime rates. The theory suggests that when communities struggle to maintain social

Sahil Kumar
Sahil Kumar
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Introduction

Social disorganization theory highlights the challenges communities face in achieving common goals and resolving persistent problems, particularly in controlling public behaviour, which can lead to increased crime. Initially proposed by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay, the theory emphasizes that neighbourhood characteristics, such as poverty, residential mobility, ethnic heterogeneity, and weak social networks, undermine a community’s ability to regulate behaviour and maintain social order. Shaw and McKay’s research in Chicago revealed that high delinquency rates persisted in certain neighbourhoods despite changes in their racial and ethnic composition, suggesting that ecological factors, rather than individual traits, largely influence crime rates.

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Sahil Kumar
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