According to Shaw and McKay, the primary explanation for the distribution of crime in cities was?

Shaw and McKay's research contributed significantly to the Chicago School of Sociology and focused on understanding urban crime rates. They proposed the concept of social disorganization theory, which posits that crime is not merely a result of individual behavior but is significantly influenced by the social environment. According to Shaw and McKay, the distribution of crime across different neighborhoods in cities can primarily be attributed to the breakdown of community controls and social cohesion, which they termed social disorganization.

Social disorganization occurs when communities experience factors such as poverty, residential instability, and ethnic diversity that inhibit the residents' ability to maintain social order and regulate behavior. In neighborhoods characterized by these features, social ties weak and residents lack the collective efficacy necessary to deter criminal behavior. As a result, crime rates tend to be higher in areas where social disorganization is prevalent.

While socioeconomic status, rural-urban migration, and cultural diversity play roles in crime and its distribution, Shaw and McKay emphasized that the disorganization of social structures within neighborhoods serves as a fundamental explanation for why certain areas experience higher crime rates than others.