Strain Theories

When examining delinquent behaviors, there are a lot of factors that stem from that behavior. Some of those factors can conclude an individual’s socioeconomic status, their location of residency, and even the appearance of the houses/area around them, which Sidney’s story tells us. Sidney was experiencing delinquent behavior. The two theories that will be connected to Sidney’s story about engaging in delinquent behavior is the Shaw and Mckay theory of social disorganization and Cloward and Ohlin’s theory of differential opportunity.

Shaw and Mckay’s theory of social disorganization main conclusions were that the differences in deliquent and crime corresponds to differences in the community. Amongst all areas, the highest rate with crime are one’s with physical deterioration. This corresponds to Sidney because he was living in an area that suffered from physical deterioration of the buildings (junkyards, factories, unpainted). This conclusion is clear, since most crime occurs in the inner cities, most of the physical appearance of the buildings may not be that great. Shaw and Mckay also reported some characteristics responsible for delinquency. These include; low socioeconomic status, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility. Based upon Sidney’s area of residency, you can tell he is in a lower socioeconomic class. He lived in one of the most deteriorated sections of the city. Ethnic heterogeneity was also common was Sidney and his community. Within his community, they were suffering from disintegration of alien cultures. This shows that more cultures, unlike Sidney's, were leaving the area. Shaw and Mckay’s theory deals with social disorganization, which is what Sidney’s community is facing. Relating this to society in general, areas who typically have alien cultures, are lower in crime. By having different cultures surrounding people, you are allowed to integrate different traditions etc, lowering crime. Sidney’s area suffered from successive changes in the composition of population factors into the social disorganization.

Cloward and Ohlin is the theory of differential opportunity. Their theory deals with legitimate versus illegitimate means. Illegitimate means are unequally available, which is differential opportunity. This typically happens with many different individuals in a low socioeconomic area. The legitimate means for money is diminished due to the lack of opportunities present. When looking at gang formation in a given area, it depends on access to illegitimate means. Sidney’s area had crime orientated gangs which this theory discusses. It emerges in neighborhoods of well organized adult criminals and the youth is socialized into crime. When viewing Sidney’s case, there were many different forms of stealing that was taken place in his community and the organized delinquents and criminals gangs were known in the area, ultimately creating a