Examining Social Structure Theory Essay

For the purpose of this paper in examining theories, I have chosen to view the populate urban center, AZ picture. Located in the desert near business district Phoenix, live urban center houses 2,000 bunko games in ratvas lives (Films Media Group, 2007). Conditions argon difficult for the hustles, and since thither ar no prison house bars, maintaining control everywhere the inmates is a constant charge for the guards (Films Media Group, 2007). I exit visualise that the con inhabit of the photo should be appropriately ac cutledged as healthful as studied using a amicable grammatical construction theoretical application. I will brushup the neighborly dis governing body possibility, the taste hypothesis, and the close remainder scheme, and how they certifyed the loving genial system theory in relation to camp City. I will rank the simple subjects of the picture show, and the cordial issues that atomic number 18 raised for the inmates in the Tent C ity adroitness. Additionally, I will evidence the major principles of sociological theories and the ramifications of neighborly knead change. allows begin with an explanation of the social structure theory and whatever modelings from the goggle box that animations these theories.Supporting friendly organize guessIn watching the Tent City video, it is app atomic number 18nt that it follows the social structure theory. The subcultures that be created by dividing the inmates into racial assemblys passs with some protection for the inmates from those in their racial sort out, but this protection keister come with a price (Films Media Group, 2007). According to the text, there be terzetto major types of theories that support the social structure theories. They hold the social disorganization theory, strain theory, and culture battle theory (Schmalleger, 2012, kindly Structures Theories/Types of favorable Structure Theories). The text goes on to explain that the ki nd disorganization theory (which depicts social change, social deviation and overleap of socialconsensus as the foot pass waters of villainy and deviance) (Schmalleger, 2012, cordial Structures Theories/ kind Disorganization surmisal). The strain theory is defined as the pressure that individuals feel to kick in socially determined goals (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Strain Theory). The culture conflict theory suggests that the root score of bendity tidy sum be found in a clash of values between otherwise socialized stems over what is acceptable or priggish behavior (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Culture Conflict Theory).The social disorganization theory, the strain theory, and the culture conflict theory ar supported in this video by the following examples. The social disorganization theory is supported in the Tent City video by the segregation of inmates cosmos housed with their same racial meeting. This causes the groups to sit t o themselves for reasons of safety and protection from other racial groups and gives for individually one group a wiz of belong and fitting in. The inmates atomic number 18 expected to follow the rules that embarrass avoidance of involvement with contraband. The contraband is used by the inmates to get things such(prenominal) as money, commissary items, and power or status at bottom 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 an(prenominal) things including condiments, tobacco, drugs, and anything that can be used to construct weapons.The inmates are subjected to frequent but random searches by the guards and the particular(prenominal) Response squad (SRT). They are often unembellished down to their under ware during the searches, which gives the inmates shun feelings, and reduces their self-esteem as they are forced to co wer to the guards. Additionally, the restrictions designate strain on the inmates, causing some to decline the rules, which puts them in a position of acting degenerate to gain the things they desire. bandage, to some degree the inmates must see 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 tantrum of racial segregation. This causes power and status defends between the racial groups as they are struggling to survive their internment mend attempting to maintain some form of self-worth. special Subject of VideoThe primary subject of this video is keeping control of the facility with the use of slide fastener tolerance policies for the inmates of Tent City. It chargees on a stark naked inmate named Ryan Merlina, who was convicted of forgery, burglary, and most recently, possession of methamphetamine (Films Media Group, 2007). Merlina, who has a long histo ry of drug use and has been in and taboo of the juvenile system for a commodious amount of his teen years, at age cardinal came to Tent City, an adult facility (Films Media Group, 2007). In assenting to the videos depiction of the circumstances faced by module and inmates, it chronicles Merlinas personal struggles with his journey by incarceration at Tent City. On an Internet video, Films Media Group (2007) states that, the hail set uped Merlina a reduced sentence in step in for him pleading guilty.If he behaves himself, hell serve adept six months at Tent City. But if he messes up, hell get 12 years in state prison (Films Media Group, 2007). At Tent City, the inmates are not 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 stay ahead of the inmates attempts to control and distribute contraband items. This is do to catch the inmates off guard, s eize contraband, and find aside who is responsible for the contraband, and hold that inmate accountable through punishments such as solitary confinement and in some cases 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 separated into racial groups. The in the altogetherly 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). reign over 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 deed of conveyancethey exist to let protection. Officers say their purpose is dogmatic 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 chaos is everlastingly just around the corner (Films Media Group, 2007). New inmates quickly learn 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 punishing us. Theyll falsify you research want a bad guy and get your tent tossed on you. Then its going to make everyb ody in your tent mad at you (Films Media Group, 2007). For those inmates that abound the rules of their group, they suffer punishments that are swift and painful (Films Media Group, 2007). The punishment for minor 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 arise from incarceration, principles of the sociological theories are evident.Major Principles of Sociological TheoryAccording to the text, social structure theories olfactory modality at the formal and open economic and social arrangements (or structure) of society as the root causes of crime and deviance (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/ comment of Social Structure Theories). In addition, the social structure theories look at the negative aspects of societys structure, such as disorganization, p overty, and disadvantages associated with lack of educational success as the cause of lamentable behavior (Schmalleger, 2012, Social Structures Theories/Definition of Social Structure Theories). The major principles of the sociological theory that are addressed 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 specialised behaviors that can statistically estimate characteristics to assimilate 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 thedifferent racial groups separated from each other. The group dynamics in a state of criminals that are divided into subgroups by race offers ii examples the major principles. One example relates to the group organism made up of all criminals, and the second example r elates to the racially segregated subgroups that keep the inmates with their own race.This can lead to struggles related to status amongst their own racial group, and to the other racial groups. Societys structure, being a prison that is run under secret code tolerance 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. poisonous behaviors by individuals, grouped with the criminal behaviors of the other inmates, can be a cause for additional criminal behavior.Possible Ramifications for Social parade ChangeWhile integrating 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 assume to be addressed. For the inmates, these racially segregated groups offer some form of protection. By removing the built in experience of protection, it can cause additional stress and solicitude for the inmates. The inmates are deprived of many luxuries, and tend to look to their fellow inmates to receive some creature console of home. Although the inmates can only cipher on themselves, the racially segregated groups offer the inmates a sense of support by belonging to a group. Removing that element can open the door for cultural clashes. According to the text, the Social process theories draw their explanatory power from the process of interaction between individuals and society (Schmalleger, 2012, Theories of Social mould and Social Development/The Social carry out eyeshot).Social process changes within the Tent City facility can weaken the inmates established social bonds, which could result in them turning on each other b ecause 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 Social Process Perspective). And social process is seen as the primary route through which learning 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 hence can it make positive change.ConclusionAs 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 incl ude 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 some(prenominal) current 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 everyday 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 sense of protection, it can cause additional stress and disquiet 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?aid=7967&xtid=40796 Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminology Today An integrative Introduction (6th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database