SOC 2700 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Social Disorganization Theory, Social Learning Theory, Symbolic Interactionism

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2700
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Bridging theories: tells us both how social structure comes about and how people become criminal. Explains both crime rates and explains criminal behavior. Conflict theories: based on the assumption that everyone has disagreements in the society. Usually based on conflict among different social classes. Laws that only benefit rich people are evidence of conflict orientation. People (cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:271)eg, s(cid:395)ueegees (cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:859)t do it a(cid:374)(cid:455)(cid:373)o(cid:396)e. Consensus theories: based on the assumption that there is agreement among people in a society. Traffic laws are evidence of consensus in society. Macrotheory: the broadest type of theory and is best used to explain social structure and its effects (epidemiology). Focuses on rates of crime rather than the criminals themselves. ex. Microtheory: explains how people become criminals (etiology). Focuses on small groups or individuals and how they became criminals. Process theory: attempts to explain how people become criminal. Structure theory: focus on the way society is organized and the effect on behavior.