According to the Chicago School, human behavior is affected by what?

The Chicago School of Sociology emphasizes the importance of the social environment in shaping human behavior, particularly in the context of urban life and community structures. This perspective focuses on how factors such as social interactions, community norms, and the characteristics of neighborhoods can influence individual actions, including criminal behavior.

The Chicago School posits that individuals are not merely products of their biology or economic status but are deeply influenced by the social settings they inhabit. For example, individuals living in socially disorganized neighborhoods may experience increased crime rates, which in turn affects their own behavior and decisions.

This sociological approach prioritizes an understanding of the relationship between human behavior and the community context, illustrating how social patterns and relationships can lead to different outcomes in behavior. By focusing on the social environment, the Chicago School highlights the role of community dynamics, relationships, and social structures in shaping individual behavior, which is a foundational principle in understanding criminology from this perspective.