Social Process Theories of Crime

Criminology ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 267-318
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Brown ◽  
Finn-Aage Esbensen ◽  
Gilbert Geis
Keyword(s):  
Social Process ◽  
Process Theories

17. Sociological positivism

2021 ◽  
pp. 515-559
Author(s):  
Steve Case ◽  
Phil Johnson ◽  
David Manlow ◽  
Roger Smith ◽  
Kate Williams
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Social Conflict ◽  
Sociological Theory ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Entire Population ◽  
Criminal Behaviour ◽  
Social Structural ◽  
Process Theories ◽  
Structural Theories

This chapter examines sociological positivism, studying how society or social processes might affect behaviour. Decisions by governments and companies and sociological issues (such as poverty) affect individuals but may also affect whole communities; they may influence the likelihood of many people to choose to offend or be law-abiding. Therefore, the health of the economy or the rate of unemployment, for example, may influence the behaviour of an entire population not just one individual and so may lead to a rise or fall in criminal behaviour. If we can identify which factors in society influence crime, and how they do so, it may be possible to alter those social factors and so decrease criminal behaviour. The chapter looks at three types of sociological theory: social interaction or social process theories, social structural theories, and social conflict theories.

14. Sociological positivism

Criminology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Case ◽  
Phil Johnson ◽  
David Manlow ◽  
Roger Smith ◽  
Kate Williams
Keyword(s):  
Social Process ◽  
Chicago School ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Sociological Perspective ◽  
Social Structural ◽  
Process Theories ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Structural Theories ◽  
Social Disorganisation

This chapter examines whether crime can be explained from a sociological perspective. Many sociological theories are positivist and argue that the behaviour of each individual is, to an extent, predetermined. This means that offenders are at least partially (often almost wholly) directed by forces outside the control of the individual. What sociological theorists generally suggest is that particular social or societal changes or factors may influence criminal behaviour. This chapter first describes three distinct types of sociological theories: social intervention or social process theories, social structural theories, and social conflict theories. It then considers key concepts in sociology, including socialisation, and the contribution of the Chicago school to the study of criminology, with particular emphasis on its social disorganisation theory. It also looks at the basic concepts of anomie, strain, subculture, and social learning in relation to crime and/or delinquency.

Academic Career-Making in the Era of Globalizing Knowledge and a Globalized Knowledge Enterprise: Demands on Individuals and Constraints over Individuality

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social System ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Academic Careers ◽  
It Impacts ◽  
Knowledge Enterprise

Academic career-making in the era of globalizing knowledge and a globalized knowledge enterprise is not only an individual undertaking but also a social process. It impacts individual academicians as they meet requirements, secure resources, find opportunities, follow procedures, and build structures to make their careers. It has consequences for society as it establishes institutions, opens markets, provides media, creates values, and enforces rules to connect individual academicians and their products to the larger social system. This paper explores academic careers, and career-making as knowledge and the knowledge enterprise become globally hegemonic. Specifically, it examines how academic career-making makes demands on individuals in the form of brainwashing, emotion rechanneling, life-simplifying, and social isolation. It also investigates how academic careers place constraints over individuality by way of socialization, massing, fashion, and lifestyle. Received 16th October2018; Revised 10th April 2019; Accepted 20th April 2019

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document