Robert E. Park

I. SOCIETY CONSISTS OF

  1. PRIMARY GROUPS
     SMALL, FACE TO FACE, INTIMATE
       
     FAMILY, NEIGHBORHOOD
  
     GOVERNED BY NATURALLY PRODUCED
     FOLKWAYS

  2. 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
  
     1. DIVISION OF LABOR

     2. MACHINE INDUSTRY

     3. CHANGE, DUE TO:

       A. TRANSPORTATION
       B. COMMUNICATION

  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."


1.   AUTOMOBILES, NEWSPAPERS, MOVIES

"APPARENTLY ANYTHING THAT MAKES LIFE
INTERESTING IS DANGEROUS TO THE
EXISTING ORDER."

2.   MIGRATION, EFFECTS ON YOUNG

PROBLEMS WITH ACCOMENDATION AND
ADAPTATION (MELTING POT)

3.   SAME IS TRUE FOR IMMIGRATION AND
     WOMEN

IV. "PROGRESS IS A TERRIBLE THING."

THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR
PROGRESS

PG. 49 HUMAN JUNK

 

 "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; 

     1.   CHURCH, SCHOOL, COURTS FIT OLDER
          SOCIETY (PRIMARY GROUPS)


     2.   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



 Return to Sociological Theories
of Deviance Page. 



 Return to John Hamlin's Home Page



This page is maintained by John Hamlin (jhamlin@mail.d.umn.edu)
Last modified on Wed Mar 13