Social Disorganization Theory

Sociology 3315
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD Social Disorganization Theory

W. I. THOMAS & FLORIAN ZNANIECKI

I. SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION REFERS TO INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT THAN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION

DIFFERENCES RESULT BECAUSE
1. DIVISION OF LABOR
2. SOCIALIZATION
II. DEFINITION

"A DECREASE OF THE INFLUENCE OF EXISTING SOCIAL RULES OF BEHAVIOR UPON INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP."
III. LIKE DURKHEIM, DEVIANCE IS FOUND EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES
- FOR THOMAS, RULE BREAKING IS DYSFUNCTIONAL
- MUST NEUTRALIZE DISORGANIZATION OR IT WILL DESTROY A SOCIETY
- PROCESS OF DISORGANIZATION AND REORGANIZATION
- IF DISORGANIZATION GETS OUT OF CONTROL, IT IS LIKELY TO END IN
  1. DESTRUCTION
  2. SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION
  THE SECOND IS MORE LIKELY
  NEW NORMS, VALUES, ETC.

HOW DO WE FIND CAUSES AND WHERE DO WE LOOK?

RULES REFLECT ATTITUDES
VALUES, COLLECTIVE CONCEPTION OF WHAT IS DESIRABLE
RULES MAY REFLECT A MULTITUDE OF VALUES,
THEFT = PRIVATE PROPERTY, AUTONOMY, PRIVACY, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, ETC.
TOO MANY CAUSES OF RULE VIOLATION TO DETERMINE PRIMARY CAUSES; INSTEAD, LOOK FOR:

"LAWS OF SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL BECOMING, I.E. FIND CAUSES WHICH ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE PRODUCE CERTAIN DEFINITE ATTITUDES, AND THESE CAUSES WILL EXPLAIN ALSO SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION..."

ROBERT E. PARK TELLS US

I. SOCIETY CONSISTS OF

PRIMARY GROUPS
- SMALL, FACE TO FACE, INTIMATE
- FAMILY, NEIGHBORHOOD
- GOVERNED BY NATURALLY PRODUCED FOLKWAYS
SECONDARY GROUPS
- LARGE, FORMAL,IMPERSONAL
- PRODUCES INSTITUTIONS LIKE CHURCH, SCHOOL, COURTS
- DESIGNED TO HELP OUT FAMILY AND NEIGHBORHOOD
- ALSO, UNDERMINES DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL BY THEM

II. DELINQUENCY IS FOUND IN COMMUNITY NOT FAMILY OR NEIGHBORHOOD
A SIGN OF COMMUNITY FAILURE

A. SMALL TOWN LIFE WAS GREAT

B. LARGE CITIES HAVE TAKEN OVER FOR MANY REASONS

RESULTS IN BREAKDOWN IN FAMILY AND NEIGHBORHOOD INFLUENCE AND CONTROL

III. CHANGE IS BAD

A. SOCIETY IS SUM OF ITS PARTS (ATOMS)
B. SOCIAL LIFE IS POSSIBLE AMONGST INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TRADITION AND CUSTOMS (HABITS)
C. THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE IN A STABLE ATMOSPHERE
PROCESS IS FINE, CHANGE IS NOT
D. ALL CHANGE PRODUCES DISORGANIZATION BECAUSE IT BREAKS ROUTINE SET BY HABITS

"EVERY NEW DEVICE THAT AFFECTS SOCIAL LIFE AND THE SOCIAL ROUTINE IS TO THAT EXTENT A DISORGANIZING INFLUENCE. EVERY NEW DISCOVERY, EVERY NEW INVENTION, EVERY NEW IDEA, IS DISTURBING. EVEN NEWS HAS BECOME AT TIMES SO DANGEROUS THAT GOVERNMENTS HAVE FELT IT WISE TO SUPPRESS ITS PUBLICATION."

AUTOMOBILES, NEWSPAPERS, MOVIES

"APPARENTLY ANYTHING THAT MAKES LIFE INTERESTING IS DANGEROUS TO THE EXISTING ORDER."
MIGRATION, EFFECTS ON YOUNG
PROBLEMS WITH ACCOMENDATION AND ADAPTATION (MELTING POT)
SAME IS TRUE FOR IMMIGRATION AND WOMEN

IV. "PROGRESS IS A TERRIBLE THING."
THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR PROGRESS

"OUR GREAT CITIES,..., ARE FULL OF JUNK, MUCH OF IT HUMAN, I.E., MEN AND WOMEN WHO, FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER, HAVE FALLEN OUT OF LINE IN THE MARCH OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS AND HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED BY THE INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION OF WHICH THEY WERE ONCE A PART."

V. SECONDARY GROUP SOCIETIES CREATE NEW INSTITUTIONS TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS;

CHURCH, SCHOOL, COURTS FIT OLDER SOCIETY (PRIMARY GROUPS)
NOW: JUVENILE COURTS, PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS, PARENT-TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS, BOY SCOUTS, YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS, BOYS' CLUBS, PLAYGROUNDS, ETC.

THESE ARE BASED ON SCIENCE NOT TRADITION

WHAT DOES THIS TELL US ABOUT CITIES AND DELINQUENCY?

CITIES HAVE NATURAL AREAS;

THAT IS, DISTINCTION SECTIONS THAT OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE PROCESSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION IS NOT A PROBLEM IN ALL AREAS OF THE CITY

ONLY CERTAIN AREAS ARE AFFECTED

ZONE I
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
ZONE II
ZONE IN TRANSITION
ZONE III
BLUECOLLAR WORKERS HOMES
ZONE IV & V
COMMUTERS'

LOTS OF MOVEMENT FROM INNER ZONE TO OUTER ZONE

HOWEVER

ZONES REMAIN THE SAME!!

BREAK DOWN OF PRIMARY GROUPS IN TRANSITION AREAS, BREAKDOWN IN STANDARDS AND NORMS

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