CMY3701
ASSIGNMENT 1 (SEMESTER 2)
DUE DATE: 12 August 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no later than
…August 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
SECTION A:
Shaw and McKay's Social Disorganization Theory in the Context of Scientific
Literature and Contemporary Media
INTRODUCTION
Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory, developed in 1942, remains one of the
foundational theories in criminology. It emphasizes the relationship between neighborhood
ecological characteristics and crime rates. This theory asserts that crime is not randomly distributed
across urban areas but is more prevalent in certain neighborhoods due to various socio-
environmental factors. This section will discuss the theory in detail, referencing scientific literature
and relating it to contemporary contexts, including insights from a recent newspaper article.
Overview of Social Disorganization Theory
Shaw and McKay's theory is grounded in the Chicago School of Sociology and focuses on how the
physical and social environments influence crime rates. They observed that crime rates were higher
ASSIGNMENT 1 (SEMESTER 2)
DUE DATE: 12 August 2024
Written Assignment Submission Guidelines:
Please ensure that your assignment is submitted electronically through the myUnisa platform no later than
…August 2024. Kindly note that fax or email submissions will not be accepted.
NB: Assignment submitted to the lecturer(s) through email will not be considered.
SECTION A:
Shaw and McKay's Social Disorganization Theory in the Context of Scientific
Literature and Contemporary Media
INTRODUCTION
Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory, developed in 1942, remains one of the
foundational theories in criminology. It emphasizes the relationship between neighborhood
ecological characteristics and crime rates. This theory asserts that crime is not randomly distributed
across urban areas but is more prevalent in certain neighborhoods due to various socio-
environmental factors. This section will discuss the theory in detail, referencing scientific literature
and relating it to contemporary contexts, including insights from a recent newspaper article.
Overview of Social Disorganization Theory
Shaw and McKay's theory is grounded in the Chicago School of Sociology and focuses on how the
physical and social environments influence crime rates. They observed that crime rates were higher
