Which theory posits that crime is more likely when communities lack stability, resources, and strong social ties?

• A. Social disorganization theory
• B. Acculturation effect
• C. Routine activities theory
• D. Self-selection

Answer: (A)

Crime tends to rise in places where stability, resources, and social ties are weak because informal social control and community norms lose their grip. This is the heart of social disorganization theory: when a neighborhood is unstable, under-resourced, and socially fragmented, networks that would ordinarily supervise behavior and intervene in problems break down, making crime more likely. The lack of stable institutions, economic strain, and weak trust among residents reduces collective efficacy—the community’s shared power to maintain social order—so opportunities for crime go unchecked. In contrast, other theories focus on different mechanisms: the acculturation effect deals with cultural adaptation processes, routine activities theory emphasizes opportunities created by the convergence of motivated offenders, targets, and guardianship, and self-selection concerns how individuals choose neighborhoods based on preferences rather than the neighborhood’s structural dynamics causing crime.