Sociological Theory

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Recommended: Micro and macro sociology

Macrosociological Theory is the analysis of the organization and structure of society and its ability to create an environment that is conducive to criminal activity. In other words, “Is the whole of society interrelated or interdependent, if so, how does it affect crime?” or “Does society influence crime?”
Microsociological Theory is the analysis of smaller portions of society (schools, family, and religion for example) and their correlation to the encouragement or ability to inhibit criminal behavior (Bohm & Vogel, 2010). The micro level examines group dynamics and the influence each member has on each other, as well as the environment on the individual (Cole, 2016). A common theme in the micro level is that criminal behavior is learned, …show more content…

Our text cites the work of Robert Merton and the achievement of the American Dream and that it can cross all sections of society. It is used in the context that failure to achieve the dream (in the beholders eyes) can lead to the commission of crime (Macro level). However, in the same vein, our text cites the work of Sykes and Matza and their 5 techniques of neutralization: 1) denial of responsibility, 2) denial of injury, 3) denial of victim, 4) condemnation of condemners, 5) appeal to higher loyalties, (all part of the micro level) (Bohm & Vogel, 2010). I point these out because I see them as variations of the same thing, but at different levels. At the macro level, failure to achieve the American Dream and crime to get it is based on the similar thought processes of the micro level - denial of victim and injury in that nobody got hurt and everyone is doing it – only at different levels. The micro level may not necessarily be achieving the American Dream, but the basic underlying premise of taking something that is not theirs for personal gain is the same. Though Sykes and Matza’s theory is applied to reducing guilty by the offender, the end game appears to be the same – personal

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