Question 1

What crime-producing force would be affecting an individual who had little ability to resist the need for immediate gratification?

Accepted Answer

The need for immediate gratification is an internal drive or motivation, often referred to as an "internal push," that compels an individual to act in certain ways to satisfy this need quickly, without considering the long-term consequences. This internal push can lead to impulsive behavior that might result in criminal activity.

Question 2

According to containment theory, what are personal factors such as restlessness, discontent, hostility, and rebellion examples of?

Accepted Answer

These personal factors are considered internal pushes in containment theory, as they originate from within the individual and can push them toward deviant behavior.

Question 3

According to containment theory, what are deviant companions, membership in criminal subcultures, and influences of the mass media examples of?

Accepted Answer

External pulls are factors that attract or lure individuals into deviant behavior, such as the influence of deviant peers (deviant companions), the allure of criminal subcultures, and the influences of the mass media. These are seen as forces that draw individuals away from conforming behavior.

Question 4

Who originally articulated social control theory?

Accepted Answer

Travis Hirschi is the sociologist who originally articulated social control theory in his seminal work, "Causes of Delinquency" (1969), where he proposed that social bonds play a role in preventing individuals from engaging in delinquent or criminal acts.

Question 5

What are attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief?

Accepted Answer

These are elements of the social bond according to Travis Hirschi's Social Control Theory, which posits that these bonds to society help prevent individuals from engaging in deviant behavior.

Question 6

What term refers to a person's sensitivity and interest in others?

Accepted Answer

Attachment refers to a person's sensitivity and interest in others, as it involves forming emotional bonds and connections.

Question 7

What do psychologists believe will happen to people who never form a sense of attachment with others?

Accepted Answer

Forming attachments is crucial for normal social and emotional development. Lack of attachment can lead to difficulties in relating to others and understanding social norms, which can manifest in behaviors associated with psychopathy.

Question 8

What term refers to the time, energy, and effort expended in conventional lines of action?

Accepted Answer

Commitment refers to the time, energy, and effort expended in conventional lines of action, indicating an individual's dedication to a particular course or activity.

Question 9

What element of the social bond do high school athletics and choir members have in common?

Accepted Answer

Both high school athletics and choir members share the element of involvement, as both activities require active participation and engagement.

Question 10

On the news you hear a story about a recent piece of research that has identified participation in after-school activities as the most effective way to prevent drug abuse by teenagers. Which social bond is this report describing?

Accepted Answer

Involvement in after-school activities keeps teenagers busy and engaged, reducing their idle time and opportunities to engage in drug abuse. This aligns with the social bond theory, which suggests that individuals who are more involved in their community or activities are less likely to engage in deviant behavior.

Question 11

According to a study in Edmonton, Alberta, what was the strongest predictor of delinquency?

Accepted Answer

Perceptions of parental attachment have been identified as a strong predictor of delinquency in various studies. A strong, positive attachment to parents can act as a protective factor against engaging in delinquent behaviors, as it influences a child's development of social norms and values.

Question 12

Research findings indicate that boys in their mid-adolescence are more deeply influenced by their parents and teachers. In control theory, what does this example indicate needs to be developed?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the concept of psychological anchors to conformity in control theory, which suggests that individuals are influenced by their relationships and the expectations of those around them, leading to conforming behaviors.

Question 13

What was Robert Agnew's most severe criticism of social control theory?

Accepted Answer

Agnew criticized social control theory by arguing that it is criminal behavior that weakens social bonds, rather than weak social bonds leading to criminal behavior, which is a reversal of the causality proposed by social control theory.

Question 14

What school of thought provided the foundation for labelling theory?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory is rooted in the symbolic interactionist perspective, which focuses on the meanings that social processes, symbols, and interactions hold for individuals. This perspective emphasizes how individuals interpret and define their social reality, which is central to understanding how labels affect individuals' self-identity and behavior.

Question 15

Jeremy is a young, black male and he notices that sometimes store owners look at him suspiciously when he enters their store. This makes him feel like an outsider. According to labelling theory, what might this be an example of?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jeremy is a young, black male and...

Question 16

What theory picks up on concepts of interaction and interpretation?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory focuses on how the labels applied to individuals by society can influence their behavior and interactions, emphasizing the role of interpretation and reaction in the process of being labelled.

Question 17

What theory is concerned with the effect that official handling by the police, courts, and correctional agencies has on the individual?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory is concerned with how the identity and behavior of individuals are influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them, particularly in the context of being processed by the criminal justice system (police, courts, correctional agencies). It suggests that being labelled as a "criminal" or "deviant" can lead to further criminal behavior, as the individual's self-concept and social identity are affected.

Question 18

What would it mean to say that deviance is a relative concept?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What would it mean to say that...

Question 19

According to Howard Becker, what term refers to the people who create rules?

Accepted Answer

Howard Becker coined the term "moral entrepreneurs" to describe individuals or groups who take the lead in identifying certain behaviors as deviant and pushing for the creation of and enforcement of rules against these behaviors.

Question 20

According to labelling theory, who are police least likely to arrest?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory suggests that secondary deviants are those who have been labelled as deviant and then adopt a deviant identity. This theory posits that once someone is labelled, they are more likely to continue in their deviance. However, the question asks who police are least likely to arrest, implying the focus is on initial labelling. Secondary deviants have already been labelled and thus are more likely to be under surveillance or suspicion, making this choice incorrect in the context of who is least likely to be arrested. The question's phrasing and the theory's focus on the effects of labelling after the fact imply that the other groups (males, minority groups, and the lower class) are more traditionally targeted for initial arrests due to societal biases, not because of their status as secondary deviants.

Quiz 8: Social Process Theories