CMY3701
Assignment 1
Unique No:831785
Due 18 August 2025
, CMY3701 – Assignment 01
Unique Number: 831785
Due Date: 18 August 2025
SECTION A
Question 1.1: Critically Discuss the Social Disorganisation Theory
[15 marks for content + 5 marks for structure = 20 marks]
Introduction
The Social Disorganisation Theory is a criminological perspective that links crime rates
to the breakdown of community structures and environmental stability. This theory
argues that criminal behaviour often stems from structural and social deficiencies in a
neighbourhood rather than from individual choices alone. When foundational institutions
like families, schools, and community organisations weaken or fail, social control
diminishes, increasing the likelihood of deviance. Initially formulated in the early 20th
century by scholars from the Chicago School of Sociology, the theory continues to offer
valuable insights into crime in socio-economically disadvantaged and unstable areas.
Main Discussion
1. Historical Background of the Theory
Social Disorganisation Theory was developed in the 1940s by Clifford Shaw and Henry
McKay, who studied urban crime patterns in Chicago. Their research revealed that
certain neighbourhoods consistently experienced high levels of juvenile delinquency,
even as different groups of people moved in and out over time. This observation led
them to conclude that the cause of crime was not inherent in individuals but rooted in
the environmental and social conditions of the area. They identified three main
contributing factors: economic hardship, frequent population shifts, and cultural
Assignment 1
Unique No:831785
Due 18 August 2025
, CMY3701 – Assignment 01
Unique Number: 831785
Due Date: 18 August 2025
SECTION A
Question 1.1: Critically Discuss the Social Disorganisation Theory
[15 marks for content + 5 marks for structure = 20 marks]
Introduction
The Social Disorganisation Theory is a criminological perspective that links crime rates
to the breakdown of community structures and environmental stability. This theory
argues that criminal behaviour often stems from structural and social deficiencies in a
neighbourhood rather than from individual choices alone. When foundational institutions
like families, schools, and community organisations weaken or fail, social control
diminishes, increasing the likelihood of deviance. Initially formulated in the early 20th
century by scholars from the Chicago School of Sociology, the theory continues to offer
valuable insights into crime in socio-economically disadvantaged and unstable areas.
Main Discussion
1. Historical Background of the Theory
Social Disorganisation Theory was developed in the 1940s by Clifford Shaw and Henry
McKay, who studied urban crime patterns in Chicago. Their research revealed that
certain neighbourhoods consistently experienced high levels of juvenile delinquency,
even as different groups of people moved in and out over time. This observation led
them to conclude that the cause of crime was not inherent in individuals but rooted in
the environmental and social conditions of the area. They identified three main
contributing factors: economic hardship, frequent population shifts, and cultural
