Social Structure Theory Research Paper
Social Structure Theory Research Paper
Benjamin Rodriguez
Crime Theory and Causes 2041
May 8, 2013
The easiest way that I can explain social structure theory is by using examples from my own life. I grew up in the projects with my single drug addict mother and my little sister. From birth I was raised surrounded by drugs, violence, prostitution and many other crimes. My mom has never worked and we grew up on nothing but government aid. All these things were the perfect environments to create criminals. I was a direct product of my environment growing up. Since from when I can remember, I grew up getting into fights, robbing house, breaking into cars, and using and selling drugs. This was all a normal life to me. It is what I grew up knowing. Only knowing this life and was able to justify it full heartedly. I was kicked out of high school for fighting and was just headed down the worse path possible. I was following everyone that I grew up around. Finally I took some advice from someone elder that told me back in middle school that thankfully stuck with me. “If you want to be like someone and have the things they have, surround yourself with those people and do what they do”. From then on I have been able to take control of my life and become a functioning and successful member of society. I went and got my diploma. Then went to college in Kansas for criminal justice. After that I joined the military. Now I am out and seeking to further my education. I drive the car I dreamt of driving as a kid and about to have my first kid with my beautiful and also successive girlfriend. All of this made possible simply by changing my surrounding environment.
Social structure theory is defined Siegel (2011), “The view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime” (pg. 470). I believe this to be true. Growing up in the projects a lot of things were not viewed as crimes in our subculture. Something as
Benjamin Rodriguez
Crime Theory and Causes 2041
May 8, 2013
The easiest way that I can explain social structure theory is by using examples from my own life. I grew up in the projects with my single drug addict mother and my little sister. From birth I was raised surrounded by drugs, violence, prostitution and many other crimes. My mom has never worked and we grew up on nothing but government aid. All these things were the perfect environments to create criminals. I was a direct product of my environment growing up. Since from when I can remember, I grew up getting into fights, robbing house, breaking into cars, and using and selling drugs. This was all a normal life to me. It is what I grew up knowing. Only knowing this life and was able to justify it full heartedly. I was kicked out of high school for fighting and was just headed down the worse path possible. I was following everyone that I grew up around. Finally I took some advice from someone elder that told me back in middle school that thankfully stuck with me. “If you want to be like someone and have the things they have, surround yourself with those people and do what they do”. From then on I have been able to take control of my life and become a functioning and successful member of society. I went and got my diploma. Then went to college in Kansas for criminal justice. After that I joined the military. Now I am out and seeking to further my education. I drive the car I dreamt of driving as a kid and about to have my first kid with my beautiful and also successive girlfriend. All of this made possible simply by changing my surrounding environment.
Social structure theory is defined Siegel (2011), “The view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime” (pg. 470). I believe this to be true. Growing up in the projects a lot of things were not viewed as crimes in our subculture. Something as