225-T7 - Social Control Theories

Question 1

Who studied anomie suicide?

Answer 1

Durkheim

Question 2

What are the four types of suicide?

Answer 2

1. egoistic suicide
2. altruistic suicide
3. anomic suicide
4. fatalistic suicide

Question 3

egoistic suicide

the circumstances and personal effects

Answer 3

circumstance: weak social constraints, everyone is self-interested

personal effects: loneliness, individualism, problems adjusting to groups

Question 4

altruistic suicide

the circumstances and personal effects

Answer 4

circumstances: high group involvement and integration

personal effects: high involvement means more likely to commit for a political/religious cause

Question 5

anomic suicide

the circumstances and personal effects

Answer 5

circumstances: no/unclear system of moral beliefs and sentiments

personal effects: high levels of stress and frustration

Question 6

fatalistic suicide

the circumstances and personal effects

Answer 6

circumstances: arguably overbearing rules and regulations (though this may not be necessary as context)

personal effects: inability to bear the circumstances of the rules and regulations

Question 7

what was the most important takeaway from Durkheim’s theories (which later influenced theories in Theories of Social Disorganization)

Answer 7

SOCIAL CONTROL

Question 8

According to Thrasher, what is the result of weak social controls?

Answer 8

weak social controls leading to delinquency. This is further supported by the prevalence of gangs in areas of weak social controls.

the gang subculture resulted from these wear social controles

Question 9

Accordig toe Shaw and McKay, what results into weak social controls (and criminality?)?

Answer 9

failues of neighbourhood institutions and organizations in providing adequate social controles

Question 10

what patterns of crime and delinquency were found by the theorists behind Theories of Social Disorganization?

hint: social factors behind delinquency

Answer 10

1. communities and instutions were disorganized and not well-integrated
2. families are unable to adequately socialize their children
3. local schools were poor

Question 11

First Nations Reserves are seen to have incredibly high rates of crme, violence, and gang formation. What would Social Disorganization theorists argue is the cause of this?

Answer 11

They argue it to be caused by the disorganization of their communities, this could include
* lower standards of living
* high rates of poverty/unemployment
* substandard housing
* boil-water advisories
* family dysfunction/breakup
* child physical and sexual abuse
* substance abuse
* etc.

Question 12

what were the two main criticisms of theories of social disorganization theories of Durkheim, Thrasher, and Shaw and McKay?

Answer 12

1. methodologically flawed (higher income-neighbourhoods are not necessarily more organized)
2. ecological fallacy (t not guaranteed that just because someone is in a lower SES, that they are a criminal)

Question 13

According to Reiss, what is the cause of delinquency?

hint: he studied this through the success of young males on probation.

Answer 13

REISS - SOCIAL AND PERSONAL CONTROLS
The absence of social and/or personal controls

Question 14

social controls

according to Reiss

Answer 14

ties to social groups (e.g. family, community, other institutions)