The Influence of Rapid Social Change on Civic Community and Perceptions of Crime and Disorder

This study examines the effects of rapid social change brought on by industrial to nine small town/rural communities located in Southern Louisiana. change is often found to have negative impacts on traditional community. In particular, communities experiencing rapid social change often heightened perceptions of crime problems and social disorder. Other literature finds that communities that are civically organized show positive social outcomes. Utilizing qualitative methodology, this study aimed examine the nuances of the relationship between rapid social change, civic, and perceptions of crime and disorder. This study proposed that civic social organizations may work as intervening institutions against the negative of social change, such as increasing fear of crime. The study found a twofold of social capital on this relationship. First, when incoming workers are into civic and social organizations then the civic community does have a effect on perceptions of crime. However, the integration of migrating into these organizations was dependent upon the workers level of trust or reciprocity perceived by the local community. Furthermore, when workers not integrated into civic and social organizations they were seen as potential, which heightened the community’s fear and distrust of new-comers.