Book - ch.3

Question 1

Distinguishing features of delinquent groups

Answer 1

♠ 2-4 members (small and shifting)
♠ Group size diminishes with age - lone offending most typical of adult offenders
♠ Unisexual
♠ Homogenous
♠ Short life-span
♠ No forethought
♠ Small groups that commit many acts are subset of larger group
♠ Not stable or organized

Question 2

Offending groups

Answer 2

Groups that actually commit delinquent acts

Question 3

Accomplice networks

Answer 3

The pool of potential co-offenders available to an adolescent

Question 4

Reasons for changes in delinquent groups

Answer 4

♠ Residential mobility
♠ Incarceration of members
♠ Shifts to conventional careers

Question 5

What divides criminologists regarding delinquent behaviour

Answer 5

It’s meaning. No one disputes that it is mostly group behaviour.

Question 6

Epiphenomenon

Answer 6

a secondary effect or byproduct that arises from but does not causally influence a process, in particular.

Question 7

Principle of homophily

Answer 7

people make friends with people who are similar to themselves

Question 8

Control theory

Answer 8

in sociology is the idea that two control systems—inner controls and outer controls—work against our tendencies to deviate. Control theory can either be classified as centralized or decentralized or neither. Decentralized control is considered market control. Centralized control is considered bureaucratic control. Some types of control such as clan control are considered to be a mixture of both decentralized and centralized control.

Question 9

Imputational data

Answer 9

i.e., official records or self- reports obtained independently on respondents and friends

Question 10

Differential association theory

Answer 10

a theory developed by Edwin Sutherland proposing that through interaction with others, individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and motives for criminal behavior.