Course type- UG

Course- BA (Part-III)
Title-Types of Social Disorganization.
Name of the teacher - Dr. Mrinal Manjari
Post - Assistant Professor
Department-Sociology
J.D. Women’s College
Patliputra University
 Types of Social Disorganization

There has been different classifications of social

disorganization given by different sociologists. Elliot and
Merrill have spoken of three interrelated types of
disorganization.
➢ Personal or Individual disorganization in which crime such as
prostitution, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency, drug addiction,
gambling, insanity or mental derangement and suicide are
included.
➢ Family Disorganization in which cases of divorce, dissertation, domestic
violence, separation, broken home, unmarried mother, illegitimate
births and venereal diseases are included.
➢ Community Disorganization which comprises of problems such as
poverty, unemployment, beggary, overpopulation, lawlessness, political
corruption, crime etc.
In accordance with the classifications about various kinds of social
disorganization given by different sociologists, we can classify social
disorganization under the following broad types. These are as follows:

❑ Individual Disorganization
• An individual’s personality develops by imbibing and adhering to the
approved and accepted pattern s and roles from the other members of
the group.
• When these patterns and roles are confused, he or she is
unable to know exactly what is expected from him/her. In this
situation, his/her chances for developing a holistic integrated
personality becomes very difficult due to which one develops
disorganized personalities.
• The various forms of individual disorganization are as follows:-
a) Delinquency: it is one of the serious pathologies of the
society. It is a kind of abnormality in which an individual
deviates from the course of normal social life.
b) The Adult Offenders or criminals: the adult criminals
manipulate and change the goals and purposes of their own
adult group to their own selfish ends and thereby promote
social disorganization in our society, state and nation.
Examples of such offenders are dacoits, robbers,
murderers,etc.
c) Sex Offenders: Extensive social change and social and political
disorganization has often lead to various attempts to throw off
rigid sex restraints. Some of its examples are rapists, paedophiles
etc.
d) Child Labour: The children who are deprived basic education and
forced into hazardous works are unable to develop physically and
mentally and prone to develop disorganized personalities.
e) Alcoholism and drug addicts: They make up one of the most
significant group of disorganized persons in a society. They are
unable to carry on their occupational family rules due to their
addiction.
❑ Family disorganization
• It is a social disorganization as it leads to breakdown of the family
group. It weakens the bonding and ruptures the role patterns of
the family members
The various kinds of family disorganization are as follows:
a) Family tensions: Some example of it are conflict between
husband and wife, in laws and members of larger kin, between
parents and children, between siblings, etc.
b) Desertion: It is the irresponsible departure of the husband or wife
from his /her family which is also an unofficial indication towards
a dissolved marriage relationship. It is also considered as a penal
offence.
c) Divorce: It is the legal breakdown of the marriage relationship.

❑ Community Disorganization:
A community for being organized is dependent on the cooperation
and consensus among its members. The disorganization of a
community is measured by the parameters of formal group life
like- population, health, social welfare, education, housing,
recreation etc. The various forms of community disorganization
are as follows:
a) The Rural Community Institutional Disorganization: It is
mainly caused due to the profound shifts in the agricultural
methods and various other socio political brought about in
the villages along with the ignorance and inadequacy of the
social institution which serves the rural needs.
b) Corruption: It is the process of larger part of social
disorganization which could be seen in the field of politics,
administration, business etc.
c) Unemployment: Lack of employment to earn basic livelihood
is considered as a community problem in both local and
national level which is also the major cause of various other
kinds of social pathologies like slums, theft, prostitution, etc.
❑ International Disorganization:
• When the coordination among the countries is not proper, it
may lead to international disorganization. Following are the
major forms of international disorganization:
a) Revolution: In this situation, the binding relationship between
a large functioning group is broken down which may be
partially due to its own inadequacies and partially due to the
effort of revolutionary leaders.
b) Totalitarianism: In this situation the authority of the law rests
upon the decision of the leader. It includes absolute control of
the ruler over the governed.
c) War: It disrupts the mutual harmony between the nations
and adversely impact on the world peace, international trade
etc.