Examining Social Structure Theory Essay

For the purpose of this paper in examining theories, I put up chosen to view the collapsible shelter city, AZ photo. Located in the desert set about downtown Phoenix, tent City houses 2,000 bunko games in canvas tents (Films Media Group, 2007). Conditions be hard for the inmates, and since there atomic number 18 no prison bars, championing control over the inmates is a constant concern for the guards (Films Media Group, 2007). I testament show that the content of the motion-picture show should be take awayly acknowledge as well as analyze using a loving body building theoretical application. I allow review the cordial disorganization theory, the stemma theory, and the grow involvement theory, and how they wear the mixer structure theory in relation to Tent City. I will identify the base fonts of the video, and the favorable issues that atomic number 18 raised for the inmates in the Tent City facility. Additionally, I will examine the major principles of so ciological theories and the ramifications of genial process change. Lets begin with an explanation of the genial structure theory and some patterns from the video that gets these theories.Supporting brotherly expression TheoryIn watching the Tent City video, it is apparent that it act ons the well-disposed structure theory. The sub assimilations that are created by dividing the inmates into racial crowds comes with some protection for the inmates from those in their racial group, but this protection can come with a footing (Films Media Group, 2007). correspond to the text, there are troika major types of theories that support the genial structure theories. They include the favorable disorganization theory, strain theory, and culture conflict theory (Schmalleger, 2012, affectionate Structures Theories/Types of well-disposed Structure Theories). The text goes on to relieve that the Social disorganization theory (which depicts social change, social conflict and lack of socialconsensus as the root causes of crime and deviance) (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Social disorganisation Theory). The strain theory is defined as the pressure that individuals discover to reach socially determined goals (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Strain Theory). The culture conflict theory suggests that the root cause of criminality can be found in a clash of values between other than socialized groups over what is acceptable or proper behavior (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Culture Conflict Theory).The social disorganization theory, the strain theory, and the culture conflict theory are supported in this video by the following manakins. The social disorganization theory is supported in the Tent City video by the segregation of inmates being housed with their same racial group. This causes the groups to circumvent to themselves for reasons of safety and protection from other racial groups and gives each group a palpa te of belonging and fitting in. The inmates are expected to follow the rules that include avoidance of involvement with contraband. The contraband is used by the inmates to let things such as money, commissary items, and post or status indoors their racial group as well as to the other racial groups. The strain theory is supported in the video because the restrictions of inmate belongings are enormous. The inmates are deprived of many things including condiments, tobacco, drugs, and anything that can be used to hit weapons.The inmates are subjected to frequent but random searches by the guards and the circumscribed reception Team (SRT). They are often stripped down to their under do in during the searches, which gives the inmates negative feelings, and reduces their self-esteem as they are forced to cower to the guards. Additionally, the restrictions trust strain on the inmates, causing some to disobey the rules, which puts them in a position of acting deviant to gain the th ings they desire. While, to some degree the inmates must reckon on other inmates for safety, protection, and contraband items, they each know that they are on their own. The culture conflict theory is supported in the video in the aspect of racial segregation. This causes power and status endeavors between the racial groups as they are struggling to survive their immurement while attempting to maintain some form of self-worth.Primary Subject of VideoThe primary subject of this video is keeping control of the facility with the use of zero perimeter policies for the inmates of Tent City. It rivetes on a new inmate prepared Ryan Merlina, who was convicted of forgery, burglary, and most recently, self-possession of methamphetamine (Films Media Group, 2007). Merlina, who has a long history of drug use and has been in and out of the juvenile system for a considerable amount of his jejune years, at age nineteen came to Tent City, an adult facility (Films Media Group, 2007). In ad dition to the videos depiction of the circumstances faced by staff and inmates, it chronicles Merlinas personalized struggles with his journey through incarceration at Tent City. On an net income video, Films Media Group (2007) states that, the court dischargeered Merlina a reduced metre in supplant for him pleading guilty.If he behaves himself, hell serve just six months at Tent City. But if he messes up, hell loll around 12 years in state prison (Films Media Group, 2007). At Tent City, the inmates are non allowed to have certain things such as sugar, tobacco, drugs, and weapons. The prison system employs the Special Response Team (SRT), who conducts random and frequent searches to stick out ahead of the inmates attempts to control and distribute contraband items. This is done to catch the inmates off guard, seize contraband, and find out who is responsible for the contraband, and hold that inmate responsible through punishments such as solitary confinement and in some cas es the implementation of maximum sentences (Films Media Group, 2007). In a setting such as the one of Tent City, the inmates face social issues of their confinement.Social Issues RaisedThe social issues raised in the video relate to the subcultures created within the Tent City facility. The inmates are spaced into racial groups. The newly arriving inmates are assigned to a tent that they share with twenty-one other inmates, all who are felons (Films Media Group, 2007). According to the video one guard stated, Unfortunately, everything out here is organized by race. And when a new inmates comes into our system, theyll be approached by someone from their race who will explain to them what the rules and expectations are out here (Films Media Group, 2007). Rule number one, stick to your own race. Each group has its own seating area and name (Films Media Group, 2007). Because the inmates stick with their own racial group, this creates social issues amongst all inmates. The groups claimt hey subsist to provide protection. Officers say their purpose is controlling inmates and contraband (Films Media Group, 2007). Each racial group has leaders that generally involve themselves in contraband. It becomes a struggle for the inmates to try to control contraband while also trying to stay under the radar of the guards.In this hostile environment, tensions run high and madhouse is always just around the corner (Films Media Group, 2007). New inmates quickly get a line that, sometimes its not a rival group inmates have to worry about, its their own (Films Media Groups, 2007). The DOs have ways of twist us against each other if we mess up. Thats their way of voiceless us. Theyll make you look like a bad guy and get your tent tossed on you. Then its going to make everybody in your tent mad at you (Films Media Group, 2007). For those inmates that break the rules of their group, they suffer punishments that are spry and painful (Films Media Group, 2007). The punishment for m inor infractions such as a communicatory insult will result in a punch in the jaw, but for major ones, such as not paying a debt, the inmate will receive a beating by three or more inmates of their racial group (Films Media Group, 2007). Due to the social issues that mount from incarceration, principles of the sociological theories are evident.Major Principles of Sociological TheoryAccording to the text, social structure theories look at the formal and informal economic and social arrangements (or structure) of confederation as the root causes of crime and deviance (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/ rendering of Social Structure Theories). In addition, the social structure theories look at the negative aspects of societys structure, such as disorganization, poverty, and disadvantages associated with lack of educational success as the cause of criminal behavior (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/ rendering of Social Structure Theories). The major principle s of the sociological theory that are address in the video are Tent Citys social group arrangements of society that provides focus for study, group dynamics and subgroup relationships from which crime develops, societys structure and degree of organization/disorganization, and specific behaviors that can statistically estimate characteristics to engage in crime.The social groups formed in Tent City are racially motivated, meaning that each inmate is segregated to their own racial group to keep the disparate racial groups separated from each other. The group dynamics in a population of criminals that are divided into subgroups by race offers two examples the major principles. One example relates to the group being made up of all criminals, and the second example relates to the racially segregated subgroups that keep the inmates with their own race.This can lead to struggles associate to status amongst their own racial group, and to the other racial groups. Societys structure, being a prison that is run under zero gross profit margin rules (organization), and the conflicting disorganization of the inmates and their desire for obtaining contraband, while they struggle to complete their sentence without getting into trouble. Additionally, the specific behaviors that each inmate possesses that brought them to commit crimes that resulted in their incarceration is a major principle of sociological theories. Criminal behaviors by individuals, grouped with the criminal behaviors of the other inmates, can be a cause for supernumerary criminal behavior.Possible Ramifications for Social Process ChangeWhile incorporate the inmates together and removing the racially segregated groups may seem like the appropriate thing to do, there are possible ramifications of changes in their social processes that make to be addressed. For the inmates, these racially segregated groups offer some form of protection. By removing the built in sense of protection, it can cause excess melody and anxiety for the inmates. The inmates are deprived of many luxuries, and tend to look to their pesterer inmates to receive some creature comforts of home. Although the inmates can only wager on themselves, the racially segregated groups offer the inmates a sense of support by belonging to a group. Removing that element can open the doorsill for pagan clashes. According to the text, the Social process theories draw their explanatory power from the process of fundamental interaction between individuals and society (Schmalleger, 2012, Theories of Social Process and Social Development/The Social Process berth).Social process changes within the Tent City facility can weaken the inmates established social bonds, which could result in them turning on each other because of different cultural practices and beliefs. According to the text, criminal behaviors are learned through the interaction with others(Schmalleger, 2012, Theories of Social Process and Social Development/The S ocial Process Perspective). And social process is seen as the primary route through which breeding occurs (Schmalleger, 2012, Theories of Social Process and Social Development/Summary). If changes are to be made, they have to be enacted in society during a persons learning process, only then can it make positive change. goalAs you can see, the content of the video should be appropriately acknowledged and studied using a social structure theoretical application. I have shown how the subcultures created by dividing the inmates into racial groups comes with some protection for the inmates from those in their racial group, but this protection comes with a price (Films Media Group, 2007). The three major types of theories that support the social structure theories include the social disorganization theory, strain theory, and culture conflict theory. All of these theories are supported in the video by the conditions and circumstances presented to the inmates of Tent City both on-line(pr enominal) and in the past. The primary subjects addressed in the video include the zero tolerance practices of the guards and its focus on the inmate named Ryan Merlina. For Merlina, its a daily struggle to do his time quickly by avoiding deviant behavior while for the guards its a constant struggle to maintain control over the inmates.This leads to how the social structure theories look at the negative aspects of societys structure like disorganization, poverty, and disadvantages that cause criminal behavior (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Definition of Social Structure Theories). The ramifications for social policy change discussed show that any changes to the current situational practices of the Tent City facility would cause problems for the inmates, and possibly create cultural clashes amongst the inmates. Since the inmates are deprived of luxuries and comforts, they depend on the friendships of other inmates for support and protection. By removing a built in sen se of protection, it can cause additional stress and anxiety for the inmates. While it is obvious that the inmates can only depend on themselves, the racially segregated groups do offer the inmates a sense of belonging. To conclude, it is apparent to me that this video does provide some important factors that can be appropriately acknowledged and studied using a social structure theoreticalapplication.ReferencesFilms Media Group (2007). Lockdown Tent City Video file. Retrieved from Films on Demand website http//digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx? advocate=7967&xtid=40796 Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminology Today An Integrative Introduction (6th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database