Social disorganisation theories and social efficacy 

These suggest that the natural ability of people to control deviancy in their neighbourhoods is impaired in some areas by the constant residential turnover and net migration. These changes can disrupt the local social networks or prevent such networks from forming. The theory suggests that social networks are responsible for most social control in local communities. Areas where there is absence of these networks experience higher levels of deviancy.

Social efficacy describes how the mutual trust and solidarity between neighbours can lead to a local resident intervening for the common good of the community as a whole. Neighbourhoods that have a great deal of social efficacy experience fewer problems of crime and disorder than neighbourhoods where social efficacy levels are low.

See the  Contacts section for more details about Criminology Theory.

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