What is the nature of sociological theorizing? What are the assumptions on which sociological perspectives on crime causation rest?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Sociological theories examine institutional arrangements within society and the interaction between and among social institutions, individuals, and groups as they affect socialization and have an impact on social behavior. Sociological theories focus on the nature of existing power relationships between social groups and in the influences that various social phenomena bring to bear on the types of behaviors that tend to characterize groups of people. Sociological theorizing uses a macro perspective, focusing on behaviors likely to be exhibited by group members, rather than trying to predict the behavior of specific individuals.

Sociological perspectives on crime causation rest on four assumptions:
• Social groups, social institutions, the arrangements of society, and social roles all provide the proper focus for criminological study.
• Group dynamics, group organization, and subgroup relationships form the causal nexus out of which crime develops.
• The structure of society and its relative degree of organization or disorganization are important factors contributing to the prevalence of criminal behavior.
• Although it may be impossible to predict the specific behavior of a given individual, statistical estimates of group characteristics are possible. Hence, the probability that a member of a given group will engage in a specific type of crime can be estimated.