[Date]
CMY3701 Assignment 1
Semester 2 2024
(575656) - DUE 12
August 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
, CMY3701 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 (575656) - DUE 12 August 2024
SECTION A
1.1. Give a detailed discussion of Shaw and McKay’s (1942) social disorganisation
theory against the background of scientific literature and the newspaper article
above. (15)
SECTION B
2.1 Discuss the assumptions of process theories and provide applicable examples.
(10)
SECTION A: Shaw and McKay’s Social Disorganisation Theory
Introduction Shaw and McKay's Social Disorganisation Theory, formulated in
1942, is a seminal framework in criminology that explains the relationship between
crime and community structures. The theory emerged from the Chicago School of
Sociology, which focused on the impact of urban environments on social
behaviors, particularly in rapidly industrializing cities.
Core Concepts of Social Disorganisation Theory Social Disorganisation Theory
posits that crime rates are influenced by the breakdown of social institutions, such
as families, schools, and communities, particularly in urban areas. Shaw and
McKay argued that crime is not evenly distributed across a city but is concentrated
in certain neighborhoods, especially those experiencing high levels of social
disorganisation. Key elements of the theory include:
1. Ecological Approach: Shaw and McKay used an ecological approach,
studying neighborhoods as dynamic entities with distinct social processes.
They identified that crime rates were highest in areas closest to the city
CMY3701 Assignment 1
Semester 2 2024
(575656) - DUE 12
August 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
, CMY3701 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024 (575656) - DUE 12 August 2024
SECTION A
1.1. Give a detailed discussion of Shaw and McKay’s (1942) social disorganisation
theory against the background of scientific literature and the newspaper article
above. (15)
SECTION B
2.1 Discuss the assumptions of process theories and provide applicable examples.
(10)
SECTION A: Shaw and McKay’s Social Disorganisation Theory
Introduction Shaw and McKay's Social Disorganisation Theory, formulated in
1942, is a seminal framework in criminology that explains the relationship between
crime and community structures. The theory emerged from the Chicago School of
Sociology, which focused on the impact of urban environments on social
behaviors, particularly in rapidly industrializing cities.
Core Concepts of Social Disorganisation Theory Social Disorganisation Theory
posits that crime rates are influenced by the breakdown of social institutions, such
as families, schools, and communities, particularly in urban areas. Shaw and
McKay argued that crime is not evenly distributed across a city but is concentrated
in certain neighborhoods, especially those experiencing high levels of social
disorganisation. Key elements of the theory include:
1. Ecological Approach: Shaw and McKay used an ecological approach,
studying neighborhoods as dynamic entities with distinct social processes.
They identified that crime rates were highest in areas closest to the city
