Compare and contrast social structure theory, social process theory, and social conflict theory. Is there a situation in which all three theories could apply?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Social structure theory attempts to explain crime using the premise "because they are poor." It suggests that there is an economic bias in the crime rate and the burden of urban poverty results in the development of a culture of poverty. Social process theory attempts to explain crime by suggesting that offenders become socialized to committing crime. It states that people commit crime as a result of experiences they have while being socialized by various organizations, institutions, and processes of society. It also links family problems to crime as evidence that socialization, not social structure, is the key to understanding the onset of crime. Social conflict theory sees economic and political forces as the fundamental causes of criminality and that criminal law and the criminal justice system are vehicles for controlling poor members of society. All three theories focus on the gap between the rich and the poor and how societal structure is most likely to discriminate against the poor and drive them to crime. Each has a slightly different framework by which to explain those factors. There are situations in which all three theories could be applied-these will vary by student.