Reflection of Social Order from Two Criminological Perspectives
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The perspectives of viewing crime as a social problem and as inevitable contribute to the broader understanding of crime and social order, highlighting the complexities involved in comprehending the relationship between crime and the structures and dynamics of society. They offer different insights into the causes and responses to crime, influencing the development of policies, interventions, and social change efforts aimed at addressing crime and promoting social justice.
From the perspective of viewing crime as a social problem, crime is seen as a reflection of social order in the sense that it highlights the presence of underlying social issues and inequalities. Crime is seen as a symptom of societal problems such as poverty, inequality, lack of opportunities, and social disorganisation. In this view, the prevalence of crime indicates a breakdown or dysfunction within the social order, where certain individuals or communities are marginalised, disadvantaged, or excluded from resources and opportunities. It suggests that the structure and dynamics of society contribute to the conditions that foster criminal behaviour.
From the perspective of crime being seen as inevitable, crime is also viewed as a reflection of social order, but in a different way. This perspective suggests that crime is an inherent part of any social order, as individuals will always deviate from societal norms and engage in illegal or harmful behaviour. It acknowledges that social order is not perfect and that the presence of crime is an inevitable outcome of the complexities and contradictions within society. In this view, crime is seen as a mechanism through which social boundaries and norms are established and reinforced, contributing to the maintenance of social order.
It is important to note that these perspectives offer different interpretations of how crime relates to social order. The perspective of crime as a social problem emphasises the need to address the underlying social issues and inequalities that contribute to criminal behaviour, viewing crime as a consequence of a flawed social order. In contrast, the perspective of crime as inevitable recognises crime as a constant feature of any social order, suggesting that it is an intrinsic part of maintaining social boundaries and norms.
From the perspective of viewing crime as a social problem, crime is seen as a reflection of social order in the sense that it highlights the presence of underlying social issues and inequalities. Crime is seen as a symptom of societal problems such as poverty, inequality, lack of opportunities, and social disorganisation. In this view, the prevalence of crime indicates a breakdown or dysfunction within the social order, where certain individuals or communities are marginalised, disadvantaged, or excluded from resources and opportunities. It suggests that the structure and dynamics of society contribute to the conditions that foster criminal behaviour.
From the perspective of crime being seen as inevitable, crime is also viewed as a reflection of social order, but in a different way. This perspective suggests that crime is an inherent part of any social order, as individuals will always deviate from societal norms and engage in illegal or harmful behaviour. It acknowledges that social order is not perfect and that the presence of crime is an inevitable outcome of the complexities and contradictions within society. In this view, crime is seen as a mechanism through which social boundaries and norms are established and reinforced, contributing to the maintenance of social order.
It is important to note that these perspectives offer different interpretations of how crime relates to social order. The perspective of crime as a social problem emphasises the need to address the underlying social issues and inequalities that contribute to criminal behaviour, viewing crime as a consequence of a flawed social order. In contrast, the perspective of crime as inevitable recognises crime as a constant feature of any social order, suggesting that it is an intrinsic part of maintaining social boundaries and norms.
