Question 1

Research on differential association theory finds that having delinquent friends:

Accepted Answer

The differential association theory posits that individuals learn deviant behaviors from their interactions with deviant peers. Therefore, having delinquent friends increases the likelihood of delinquency.

Question 2

According to Matza, __________ refers to the process of moving from one extreme of behavior to another. Further, this helps to explain why a youth's behavior may be law abiding sometimes and deviant at other times.

Accepted Answer

Drift refers to the concept introduced by Matza, which explains how individuals move between conforming and deviant behaviors, allowing for fluctuations in behavior such as a youth being law-abiding at times and deviant at others.

Question 3

According to differential reinforcement theory, what determines whether deviant or criminal behavior persists?

Accepted Answer

Differential reinforcement theory posits that behavior is maintained by its consequences, meaning that behavior that has been rewarded is more likely to persist. In the case of deviant or criminal behavior, if it has been consistently reinforced (either positively or negatively), it is more likely to continue. Therefore, the degree to which the behavior has been rewarded or punished is the primary determinant of whether it persists. Factors such as living conditions, neutralization techniques, and conventional ties to society may also play a role, but they are not the primary determinants according to differential reinforcement theory.

Question 4

The age of children when they first encounter definitions of criminality impacts the _____ of an association.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The age of children when they first...

Question 5

Whose name do we associate with the prominent social learning theory of differential association?

Accepted Answer

We associate the prominent social learning theory of differential association with Edwin Sutherland. Matza and Sykes were criminologists who proposed the theory of neutralization and drift, while Bell is a sociologist who focuses on critical race theory.

Question 6

Which of the following is the study of human interactions and relationships that emphasizes such issues as group dynamics and socialization?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the study...

Question 7

One way in which schools perpetuate stigmatization is through  ________, which identifies some students as college-bound and others as academic underachievers or potential dropouts.

Accepted Answer

The track system in schools categorizes students based on perceived ability or future potential, often leading to stigmatization by labeling some as high achievers and others as underachievers.

Question 8

Social learning theory suggests that crime is a/an ___ behavior

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory suggests that crime is a learned behavior. This means that people learn to commit crimes through their interactions with others, such as their parents, peers, and the media.

Question 9

According to differential association theory, everyone has both favorable and unfavorable ______ of/to crime.

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior through interactions with others, and these interactions provide both favorable and unfavorable definitions of crime.

Question 10

In every level of the social structure, youths who fall in with a "bad crowd" become more susceptible to:

Accepted Answer

Youths who associate with a "bad crowd" are more likely to adopt criminal behavior patterns due to peer influence and pressure.

Question 11

Theorists who believe that an individual's socialization determines the likelihood of criminality adopt the ______ approach to human behavior.

Accepted Answer

The social process approach emphasizes that human behavior is shaped by social interaction and experiences. In the context of criminal behavior, individuals may become more or less likely to engage in criminal activities based on their socialization experiences, such as the values and norms they are exposed to in their families, schools, or peer groups. This approach highlights the importance of understanding the social context and processes that contribute to criminal behavior, rather than individual dispositions or traits.

Question 12

Which of the following refers to the type of social structure that integrates children into families while giving parents the ability to assert their individuality and regulate their own behavior

Accepted Answer

Parental efficacy refers to the parent's ability to effectively raise and care for their children while maintaining their own personal and emotional well-being. It involves creating a balance between the needs of the child and the needs of the parent, as well as providing a supportive and nurturing environment for the child to grow and develop. This type of social structure allows children to be integrated into families while also giving parents the ability to assert their individuality and regulate their own behavior.

Question 13

A criticism of learning theories is that they fail to adequately explain:

Accepted Answer

Learning theories focus on how behavior is acquired through conditioning and reinforcement. However, they may not adequately explain impulsive or spontaneous acts of violence which may not have been learned through direct reinforcement.

Question 14

Approximately _____ percent of youths with criminal fathers become chronic offenders.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Approximately _____ percent of youths with criminal...

Question 15

The importance and prestige attributed to individuals or groups from whom the definitions are learned is the _____ element of an association.

Accepted Answer

The intensity element of an association refers to the importance and prestige attributed to individuals or groups from whom definitions are learned.

Question 16

When behavior is punished, this is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

When behavior is punished, it is referred to as negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is the removal or avoidance of an aversive stimulus in response to a behavior, resulting in an increase or continuation of that behavior.

Question 17

The process of human development and enculturation is known as:

Accepted Answer

The process of human development and enculturation is known as socialization. This process involves learning cultural norms, values, and behaviors through various social interactions, including family, friends, education, and media. Stigmatization refers to the process of labeling someone with a negative attribute, while drift refers to the gradual shift in behavior or attitudes over time. Amplification refers to the reinforcement or exaggeration of a particular behavior or belief.

Question 18

Criminologists have long studied the critical elements of socialization to determine how they contribute to a burgeoning criminal career. Prominent among these elements are the family, the peer group, and ______________.

Accepted Answer

School is a critical element of socialization that influences behavior and can contribute to the development of a criminal career, alongside family and peer groups.

Question 19

The view, according to Akers, that both deviant and conventional behaviors are learned is called:

Accepted Answer

Differential reinforcement theory, as proposed by Akers, suggests that both deviant behavior and conventional behavior are learned through the same social processes, including reinforcement principles.

Question 20

When friends or parents demonstrate their disapproval of crime, what can occur?

Accepted Answer

When friends or parents show disapproval of crime, it can lead to the development of definitions unfavorable toward criminality, meaning individuals may adopt attitudes that discourage criminal behavior.

Quiz 7: Social Process Theories Socialization and Society