Final answer:
The term 'medicalization of deviance' describes the process where 'bad' behavior is reclassified as 'sick' behavior within a society. This complements the social disorganization theory, which links crime with socio-environmental factors such as poverty and weak social controls.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term medicalization of deviance refers to the process wherein behaviors previously understood as immoral, bad, or deviant are transformed into indicators of a medical illness, and thus, treated as a sickness that needs medical attention. This concept aligns with the functionalist perspective in sociology, which considers health to be vital for societal stability while viewing sickness as a sanctioned form of deviance. In the social sciences and criminology, this redefinition of what constitutes an illness directly impacts a society's approach to crime and deviance, as well as influences public policy and resource allocation aimed at mitigating the causes and effects of social disorganization.
Social disorganization theory highlights how broad social factors, notably in communities with weak social ties and lacking social control, contribute to higher rates of crime and deviance. Poverty, family disruption, and other environmental factors are seen as correlating strongly with criminal behavior, emphasizing the need for preventive measures such as early childhood intervention in disadvantaged communities.