Introduction
In order to understand the nature of crime and the concept of social disorganization, one needs to perform a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon and study it from different angles. The Chicago School of Criminology suggests viewing the notion under scrutiny from the ecological perspective, thus placing emphasis on the societal issues and the related factors (Hardyns & Pauwels, 2017). Implying that the setting in which an individual lives defines their propensity toward crime, the Chicago Theory (CTC) posits that the strategy for mitigating crime should be based on changing the social perspective and conditions in which people are raised.
Main body
Based on the tents of sociological theoretical frameworks, the Chicago School Theory suggests that interactions within a family define one’s behavior and set of values to a large extent, causing one to develop specific patterns of interpersonal relationships. The term “anomie,” which serves to define the “the shared perception that society is breaking down,” is linked to the CTC directly (Teymoori, Bastian, & Jetten, 2017, p. 1011). The concept emerged with the creation of the differential association theory, which has ostensibly been inspired by CTC (Barmaki, 2016). In this context, the impact of family relations on an individual and their propensity toward crime needs to be considered. Representing a microcommunity, the family hierarchy, and interactions within it shape one’s perception of right and wrong, affecting one’s choice between the legal and illegal. Thus, CTC has led to the assessment of interpersonal relationships, stereotypes, and the impact thereof on the probability of a person committing a crime.
Studies show that the influence that family has on an individual is quite large in terms of the development of criminal tendencies. For instance, the study by Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2018) points to the prevalence of challenging family backgrounds in criminals. In addition, a study by Hardyns and Pauwels (2017) addressing the problem of juvenile crime and increase in its rates proves that the impact of family members on one’s decision to undertake criminal activities is quite vast. According to Barmaki (2019), the observed situation occurs due to the misrepresentation of basic values, as well as moral and ethical norms, in early childhood and the development of the respective issues in adult decision-making. Overall, there is a clear correlation between the family background of an individual and the behaviors that they are likely to develop in the future. While the observed discovery does imply that people from poor socioeconomic backgrounds may be under a greater threat for developing criminal tendencies, it also suggests that the level of criminal activities can be reduced by encouraging a change in community values, behaviors, and philosophy.
Conclusion
CTC allowed expanding the analysis of crime and creating new approaches toward its management by shifting the discussion to the area of sociology. By considering the societal issues that may cause a rise in crime within disadvantaged areas, CTC has provided the platform for introducing a healthier perspective into the specified communities. Moreover, the application of the CTC in the context of managing the levels of crime will imply introducing young people from disadvantaged family backgrounds to the set of values and opportunities that will allow them to diverge from the path of crime. Allowing for a sophisticated approach toward managing relationships within society and addressing them at the family level, the Chicago School theory has created premises for ensuring safety and healthy relationships within communities.
References
- Barmaki, R. (2016). On the origin of the concept of “deviant subculture” in criminology: W.I. Thomas and the Chicago School of Sociology. Deviant Behavior, 37(7), 795-810. doi:10.1080/01639625.2016.1145023
- Barmaki, R. (2019). On the origin of “labeling” theory in criminology: Frank Tannenbaum and the Chicago School of Sociology. Deviant Behavior, 40(2), 256-271. doi:10.1080/01639625.2017.1420491
- Hardyns, W., & Pauwels, L. J. (2017). The Chicago school and criminology. In The Wiley handbook of the history and philosophy of criminology (pp. 123-139). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Lilly, J. R., Cullen, F. T., & Ball, R. A. (2018). Criminological theory: Context and consequences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
- Teymoori, A., Bastian, B., & Jetten, J. (2017). Towards a psychological analysis of anomie. Political Psychology, 38(6), 1009-1023. doi:10.1111/pops.12377