Welcome back to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 2. In this season, we’re covering Roger Hopkins Burke’s ‘An Introduction to Criminological Theory.’ In Episode 7, we shift focus to the sociological lens, exploring how society shapes crime and deviance.

In Episode 7, we dive into sociological positivism — a school of thought that views crime as a product of social structures and environments, not just individual traits.

Based on Chapter 7 of An Introduction to Criminological Theory by Roger Hopkins Burke, this episode unpacks major sociological theories including:

🌍 Durkheim’s Anomie and Social Disorganization – exploring how the breakdown of norms and regulation can foster deviant behavior.

🏙️ The Chicago School – analyzing how urban areas, especially "zones in transition," create the conditions for crime.

⚖️ Merton’s Strain Theory – explaining how the gap between societal goals and available means leads to deviant adaptations.

🎭 Deviant Subculture Theories – investigating how groups form around shared values that oppose mainstream norms, sustaining criminal behavior over time.

We also reflect on how poverty, inequality, urban decay, and community structures contribute to the persistence of crime, making these theories highly relevant for both CSS preparation and real-world policy analysis.