Question 1

______________ controls are based on affectional identification with others, such that an individual conforms in order to maintain relationship bonds and avoid disappointing others.

Accepted Answer

Indirect controls involve conforming to norms and expectations primarily to maintain positive relationships and avoid disappointing others. This type of control is based on the affectional ties and identification with others, rather than direct external pressure or internal beliefs.

Question 2

Research has shown that the element of the social bond that is the best predictor of delinquency is commitment.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that the element of the social bond most strongly associated with predicting delinquency is attachment, not commitment. Attachment, especially to parents and teachers, plays a crucial role in influencing an individual's likelihood to engage in delinquent behavior.

Question 3

Research has shown that the elements of the social bond are more strongly related to minor delinquency than to serious delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that elements of the social bond, such as attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief, are more effective in preventing minor delinquency, as serious delinquency often involves more complex factors beyond social bonds.

Question 4

Hirschi argues that any activity that consumes a youth's time and energy will prevent delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Hirschi's social control theory suggests that strong bonds to society (involvement, attachment, commitment, and belief) prevent delinquency, not merely any activity that consumes a youth's time and energy.

Question 5

According to Hirschi, the four elements of an individual's social bond to society are attachment, conformity, involvement, and belief.

Accepted Answer

According to Hirschi, the four elements of an individual's social bond to society are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.

Question 6

In his social bond theory, Hirschi argues that attachment to peers increases the likelihood of delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Hirschi's social bond theory suggests that strong social bonds to family, school, and other societal institutions decrease the likelihood of delinquency, not increase it. Attachment to peers is seen as positive unless those peers themselves engage in delinquent behavior.

Question 7

Attachment is generally regarded as the primary element of the social bond in Hirschi's theory.

Accepted Answer

In Travis Hirschi's Social Control Theory, attachment is considered the primary element among the four elements (attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief) that describe the social bonds a person has with society.

Question 8

Hirschi was most concerned with the question of what motivates young people to get involved in delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Hirschi was more concerned with understanding why young people do not engage in delinquency, focusing on social bonds that prevent delinquent behavior.

Question 9

Sociologists have always claimed that formal social controls are more important in explaining conformity than are informal social controls.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists argue that both formal (laws, regulations) and informal (norms, values, expectations) social controls play significant roles in explaining conformity, with many emphasizing the powerful influence of informal social controls in everyday social interactions.

Question 10

In their theory, Sampson and Laub are concerned with transitions and turning points in the life course.

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Laub's theory of informal social control emphasizes the importance of life transitions and turning points (such as marriage or employment) in influencing an individual's path towards or away from criminal behavior over the life course.

Question 11

Life-course theory emphasizes the importance of social bonds as the primary means of informal social control.

Accepted Answer

Life-course theory indeed emphasizes the importance of social bonds, such as those formed through family, work, and marriage, as a primary means of informal social control, influencing individuals' behavior and decisions throughout their lives.

Question 12

Self-control theory explains crime and also "analogous acts" such as accidents, smoking, and alcohol use.

Accepted Answer

Self-control theory, also known as the General Theory of Crime, posits that low self-control is a key factor not only in the propensity to commit crimes but also in engaging in behavior that is analogous to criminal acts, such as accidents, smoking, and alcohol use, due to the lack of foresight, impulsivity, and risk-taking behaviors associated with low self-control.

Question 13

Nye differentiated three major forms of control and demonstrated how family relations play a vital role in the development and application of these controls. Which of the following is NOT one of these controls?

Accepted Answer

Nye's theory on family relations and social control identifies three major forms of control: direct controls (involving the application of punishments or rewards by figures of authority), indirect controls (where the individual's behavior is influenced by their affectionate identification with non-deviant others), and internalized controls (where norms and values are internalized, guiding the individual's behavior). "Externalized controls" is not part of Nye's categorization.

Question 14

Social control theories focus on:

Accepted Answer

Social control theories emphasize the importance of social relationships and the bonds individuals have with others, such as family, friends, and the community, in preventing deviant behavior or criminal activities. They argue that strong, positive relationships can act as a deterrent to crime.

Question 15

Parental criminality contributes to children's delinquency indirectly, through weakened parental controls of children.

Accepted Answer

Parental criminality can lead to weakened parental controls and supervision, creating an environment where children are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors due to lack of guidance and proper role models.

Question 16

Delinquents are more likely to come from large families than from small families.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that delinquency rates tend to be higher among individuals who come from larger families. This is often attributed to factors such as reduced parental supervision, economic strain, and less individual attention.

Question 17

Research shows that direct parental controls such as consistent discipline and supervision are related to low levels of delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that direct parental controls, including consistent discipline and supervision, are associated with lower levels of delinquent behavior in children. These parenting practices help establish clear boundaries and consequences for behavior, contributing to a lower likelihood of delinquency.

Question 18

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, self-control is an inherited trait, present at birth.

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi argue in their General Theory of Crime that self-control is primarily developed in early childhood through parenting and socialization, rather than being an inherited trait.

Question 19

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi's theory, the origins of self-control are primarily in effective social control experiences in schools.

Accepted Answer

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory of Crime, the origins of self-control are primarily in effective parenting or child-rearing practices, not in schools.

Question 20

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime holds that crimes are committed by persons who fail to develop self-control.

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime, also known as the self-control theory, posits that individuals who do not develop adequate self-control during childhood are more likely to engage in criminal behavior throughout their lives.

Quiz 9: Social Control Theories: Family Relations