The Different Tiers And Levels Of Shaw And Mckay's Theory Of Development

In examining and analyzing the different tiers or levels of an urban landscape, Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D. McKay emphasize the issue that other theories surrounding criminal or delinquent behavior lack. That is, “theories that focus only on personality or biological traits ignore that youths are surrounded by a community that they interact with over many years [which, in turn] shape patterns of behavior (Shaw and McKay, 1942). In other words, Shaw and McKay highlight the social and environmental factors which could influence or encourage criminal behavior. This is especially true in low-income neighborhoods where partaking crime is fostered and passed on throughout the community. Though Shaw and McKay’s theories on juvenile delinquency were
The transitional zone houses many low-income families that struggle to afford basic necessities. Often times, this struggle leads to criminal behavior as a means of survival. As Shaw and McKay state, “the family, in areas of high rates of delinquents, is affected by the conflicting systems of values and the problems of survival and conformity with which [they] are confronted” (Shaw and McKay, 1942). Most families in low-income situations come from a cycle of crime and it does not mean that everyone in the immediate family unit (parents) commits the crime. Children can often see their uncles, aunts, or cousins and go under the influence of delinquent behavior. This is especially true if the criminal behavior is offering monetary or better life value that, in turn, “neutralize[s] the family’s opposition to the criminal crime” (Shaw and McKay, 1942). An example of this concert at work would be the extremely high rates of drug activity and trafficking found in low income or transitional zones. In fact, a study conducted with a low-income African American community reported that “Of [the] 349 participants, 63 (18%) had been asked to traffic drugs and 134 (38%) had seen someone else being asked to traffic drugs” (Xiaoming et al. 1999). This type of exposure and drug activity as an opportunity normalizes its criminal
As stated previously, low-income neighborhoods found in transitional zones tend to have the same type of behavioral ideals or norms and values. This uniformity in delinquent behavior is also heavily present in social and peer groups. An individual growing up in a transitional community come face to face with many social and peer pressures to commit crime in order to fit in or prove something. This is heavily prevalent in the number of youths and adults in gangs. In fact, youths in transitional or low-income communities have a 12% more chance of joining a gang (U.S Department of Health and Human Services) with “40% [of] juveniles (under 18) and 60% [of] adults already partaking in gang activity (Hernandez, 2012). The ongoing presence of gangs and gang activity coupled with the prospective outcomes of crime or organized crime increases the chance that an individual will behave delinquently. It is also important to note that the large presence of gang activity in transitional zones directly links to the “prestige [that is] secured through acts of skill and courage in the delinquent or criminal world, while in neighboring groups any attempt to achieve distinction in this manner would result in disapprobation” (Shaw and McKay, 1942). This is the main distinction between low-income communities and high-income communities. Criminal