Social Disorganization Theory

Throughout its history, social disorganization theory has been one of the most widely applied ecological theories of criminal offending. At the root of social disorganization theory is the explanation of variations in criminal offending and delinquency, across both time and space, as a product of institutional disintegration. These institutions (family, school, church, friendship, etc.) are historically responsible to the establishment of organized and cooperative relationships among groups within the local community. This organization is then linked to the bond or “sense of belonging” one might feel in regards to their community, which decreases the likelihood of their involvement in criminal or delinquent behaviors that might negatively affect that community. The theoretical approach is not without its detractors as the theory has been critiqued from being “wholly negative,” too structural in nature, and centered on specific privileged orientations of “organizations.” This entry attempts to summarize these points while introducing the historical development and contemporary applications of the theoretical approach.