Social disorganization theory is a

theory A theory is a systematic and rational form of abstract thinking about a phenomenon, or the conclusions derived from such thinking. It involves contemplative and logical reasoning, often supported by processes such as observation, experimentation, ...

criminology Criminology (from Latin , 'accusation', and Ancient Greek , ''-logia'', from λόγος ''logos'', 'word, reason') is the interdisciplinary study of crime and deviant behaviour. Criminology is a multidisciplinary field in both the behaviou ...

that was established in 1929 by

Clifford Shaw Clifford Robe Shaw (1895 – 1957) was an American sociologist and criminologist. He was a major figure in the Chicago School of sociology during the 1930s and 1940s, and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in American crimino ...

and published in 1942 with his assistant Henry McKay. It is used to describe

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definiti ...

and delinquency in urban North American cities, it suggests that communities characterized by

socioeconomic status Socioeconomic status (SES) is a measurement used by economics, economists and sociology, sociologsts. The measurement combines a person's work experience and their or their family's access to economic resources and social position in relation t ...

, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility are impeded from organizing to realize the common goals of their residents.

Theory

In 1929, as part of the study “Juvenile Delinquency and Urban Areas” in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, Shaw researched the residences of 60,000 young males who had been registered by the city, the police or the courts as school truants or offenders. He dubbed the areas in which a significant portion of the young men under investigation lived “delinquency areas”.

Criticism

The theory has been subject to

criticism Criticism is the construction of a judgement about the negative or positive qualities of someone or something. Criticism can range from impromptu comments to a written detailed response. , ''the act of giving your opinion or judgment about the ...

, pointing out the lack of explanation as to why delinquency is concentrated in certain geographical areas of a city. Research has deemed the theory inconclusive, and that most cities don’t adhere to what was a commonly accepted theory for quite some time.

References

{{Reflist Criminology