Chapter 15: Sociological Theories (Social Process Theories) Pt. 2

Question 1

According to Social Bonds Theory, what is the importance of social bonds in relation to the rate of criminal acts?

Answer 1

people with strong bonds to social groups like family, peers, schools, and religious organizations are less likely to commit criminal acts

Question 2

According to ______ ______ Theory human nature is inherently evil.

Answer 2

Social Bonds

Question 3

According to Social Bonds Theory human nature is inherently _____.

Answer 3

evil

Question 4

According to Social Bonds Theory, What are the major bonds that control human behavior?

Answer 4

(1) attachment
(2) commitment
(3) involvement
(4) beliefs

Question 5

Which major social bond is this: family and friends

Answer 5

attachment

Question 6

Which major social bond is this: stakes in conformity

Answer 6

commitment

Question 7

Which major social bond is this: conventional activities

Answer 7

involvement

Question 8

Which major social bond is this: obeying the rules of society

Answer 8

beliefs

Question 9

Social Bonds Theory is applied to explain what?

Answer 9

(1) the onset ad episodic nature of various types of criminal behavior
(2) the age-crime curve
(3) other group differences in crime rates

Question 10

According to the general theory of crime, what are the two types of control systems that regulate human behavior?

Answer 10

(1) “social controls”

(2) “self-control”

Question 11

What is the difference between “social controls” and “self-controls”?

Answer 11

“social controls”- that are primarily external to the individual
“self-control”- that is internal to the individual

Question 12

How does “social controls” relate to one’s “self-control”?

Answer 12

external social controls affect early socialization processes that lead to one’s self control

Question 13

Variation in ____-_______ accounts for differences in criminal propensity.

Answer 13

self-control

Question 14

When was labeling theory established?

Answer 14

in the late 1950s and early 1960s

Question 15

According to Labeling Theory how do formal social control efforts actually do more harm than good?

Answer 15

(1) stigmatizing/labeling the individual as no good and/or worthless
(2) closing off their opportunities for reintegration back into mainstream society
(3) ultimately leading the label person to develop a deviant self-concept and behaving in ways that are consistent with this label

Question 16

Who created the theory of secondary deviance?

Answer 16

Edwin Lemert

Question 17

What is the difference between “primary” and “secondary” deviance?

Answer 17

“primary deviance”- the onset of criminal behavior

“secondary deviance”- subsequent criminal acts that occur after formal social control efforts for the primary deviance

Question 18

According to Labeling Theory how do you break the deviance cycle?

Answer 18

enhance decriminalization deinstitutionalization, and diversion of “criminal cases” away from formal handling within the criminal justice system

Question 19

According to Labeling Theory, why are there high recidivism rates?

Answer 19

(1) crime-producing effects of stigmatizing these individuals
(2) closing off alternative for them
(3) increasing their likelihood of developing a deviant self-image

Question 20

Labeling Theory is a popular ______________ approach for understanding crime that emerged from the tumultuous era of the early 1960s.

Answer 20

antiestablishment

Question 21

How strong is the evidence to support Labeling theory?

Answer 21

the evidence to support this theory is fairly weak