Why People Remain in Socially Disorganized Communities: A Critique of Social Disorganization Theory

Author

LaSheyla Kajuan Jones

Graduation Semester and Year

2020

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Public Policy

Department

Urban and Public Affairs

First Advisor

Rod Hissong

Abstract

The literature surrounding social disorganization has typically focused on crime and a communities inability to influence existing social rules of behavior upon individuals (Paulsen & Robinson, 2004). This qualitative study examines twenty-one tenure tract residents, business owners, and/or leader’s motivation for remaining in areas deemed socially disorganized under the HUD R/ECAP standards. Utilizing interviews and surveys to understand how individual participants experience living, working, and/or advocating in communities classified as socially inadequate, allowed patterns to emerge that pinpointed why people chose to remain in these communities. Leaders, business owners, and residents alike, offered an array of information supporting their position to remain within their community and a need for social disorganization to be explored holistically rather than individually with crime. The importance of communal bartering and family support also emerged as a deciding factor for participants decision to remain members of the specified community. Implication for further research could include redeveloping social disorganization to be inclusive of traits that depict the nature and functions used within the community to identify the area as socially disorganized. It is also suggested that a bottom up approach be utilized to include residents, business owners, and community advocates in the decisions made to improve areas identified as socially disorganized.

Keywords

Social disorganization, Qualitative research, Holistic approach, Crime, Economics, Residential, HUD R/ECAP

Disciplines

Public Affairs | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Social and Behavioral Sciences

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

Recommended Citation

Jones, LaSheyla Kajuan, "Why People Remain in Socially Disorganized Communities: A Critique of Social Disorganization Theory" (2020). Public Affairs Dissertations. 192.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/publicaffairs_dissertations/192