Chapter 10: Strain Theory

Question 1

What theoretical perspectives does strain theory fall in line with.

Answer 1

Consensus Theory!

Question 2

What do consensus theorists assume?

Answer 2

a reasonable degree of agreement on things that matter in society.

Question 3

What is Strain Theory?

Answer 3

The Proposition that people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals they are unable to reach because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving those goals.

Question 4

social solidarity

Answer 4

social groups working together towards agreed-upon goals.

Question 5

What did Durkheim argue was an essential characteristic of human societies?

Answer 5

Social Solidarity.

Question 6

When does normlessness or anomie occur?

Answer 6

During periods of rapid change when social solidarity or social cohesion is reduced.

Question 7

The lack of a sense of community and a collective conscience leads to a breakdown in society and increase in ______ and ______

Answer 7

Suicide and crime.

Question 8

What approach to sociology did Emile Durkheim use?

Answer 8

Structural functionalism

Question 9

Anomie

Answer 9

A sense of normlessness or hoplessness.

Question 10

Social structures

Answer 10

The patterned and relatively stable arrangement of roles and statuses found within societies and social institutions.

Question 11

Who said it: “Too much emphasis on the pursuit of self-interested goals and not enough on “legitimate means” to achieve those goals leaves society “Normless” or anomic. People then use illegitimate, or criminal, means to achieve their desires

Answer 11

Merton

Question 12

An anomic society places a higher priority on ___________ values such as the acquisition of wealth, status, and power, and a low priority on _________ values such as fairness, equality, and justice.

Answer 12

Self-interested, collective

Question 13

What is crime a symptom of according to Merton’s theory?

Answer 13

Culturally prescribed aspirations and the social structured means of realizing them.

Question 14

what are culturally prescribed aspirations?

Answer 14

Goals held up for all members of society.

Question 15

The gap between goals and the means of attaining those goals is _____ for certain portions of the society but _____ for others

Answer 15

small, large

Question 16

The strain resulting from the gap between goals and means to achieve those goals may result in…..

Answer 16

some sort of innovation, usually deviant in nature.

Question 17

Micro-anomie

Answer 17

where an individual places more value on self-interest than on collective values

Question 18

Self-enhancing values

Answer 18

Values that emphasize social status, prestige, dominance over others, and personal success.

Question 19

self-transcending values

Answer 19

Values that emphasize appreciation, tolerance, protection, and the welfare of others.

Question 20

In societies in which there are many block opportunities, what will happen?

Answer 20

There will be pockets of instrumental crime, regardless of cultural values.

Question 21

What does Merton’s theory provide us with?

Answer 21

Ideas about how to reduce the harm caused by privileged predators.

Question 22

Merton’s 5 types of adaptation

Answer 22

1. Conformity
2. Ritualism
3. Innovation
4. Retreatism
5. Rebellion

Question 23

What is conformity

Answer 23

pursuing cultural goals through approved means.

Question 24

What is Ritualism?

Answer 24

Ritualists accept the means but reject goals, so this person may work hard but doesn’t seek the “American dream”.

Question 25

What is innovation?

Answer 25

using socially unapproved means to obtain culturally approved goals. (STRAIN)

Question 26

What is Retreatism

Answer 26

To both reject the cultural goals and the means to obtain it.

Question 27

What is Rebellion?

Answer 27

Reject cultural goals and means then work to replace them.

Question 28

Opportunity structure

Answer 28

Opportunity is shaped by the society or an institution is organized or structured

Question 29

Relative deprivation

Answer 29

Deprivation in relation to others around you, rather than judged against an absolute standard.

Question 30

absolute deprivation

Answer 30

The inability to sustain oneself physically and materially.

Question 31

People can participate in a given adaptation only if they have _____ to the means to do so.

Answer 31

access

Question 32

Juveniles responses to social barriers for achieving goals could lead to 3 different types of gangs or subculture.

Answer 32

Criminal, conflict, and retreatist gangs.

Question 33

subculture

Answer 33

A group of people who share a distinctive set of cultural beliefs and behaviours that differs in some significant way from that of the larger society.

Question 34

Who asserted that simply being subjected to socially generated strain did not enable a person to deviate in any way he or she chose?

Answer 34

Cloward and Ohlin

Question 35

What is human capital?

Answer 35

The talents and capabilities that individuals contribute to the process of production.

Question 36

which two individuals argued that American culture emphasizes monetary success.

Answer 36

Messner and Rosenfeld

Question 37

What did early strain theorists focus on?

Answer 37

Lower-class crimes.