Chapter 2- Positivist Theories

Question 1

Anomie

Answer 1

Breakdown of social norms

Question 2

Anomie strain theory

Answer 2

Examines how anomie causes deviance

Question 3

Merton focused on what?

Answer 3

Goals means gap
Ways in which society encourages deviant behavior
Deviance occurs when society encourages individuals to commit it

Question 4

Durkheim

Answer 4

Anomie is absence of norms and this leads to deviance

Question 5

Conformity

Answer 5

Accepting both society approved goals and means

Question 6

What do positivists do?

Answer 6

Try to explain horrible deviant acts

Question 7

Innovation

Answer 7

Use of illegitimate means to achieve socially accepted/ promoted high success goals

Question 8

Ritualism

Answer 8

Abandoning high success goals but pursuing legitimate work

Question 9

Retreatism

Answer 9

Withdrawal from goals and means of society

Question 10

Rebellion

Answer 10

Rj edition of prevailing social expectations and support for overthrowing the system
Ex: social institutions, bureaucracy

Question 11

Cohen

Answer 11

Modified merlons strain theory, introduced the delinquent subculture by status frustration 
Observed how Lower classed youths react
Unreasonable middle class measuring by turning to deviance

Question 12

Coward and Ohlin

Answer 12

Extended mertons theory by focusing on differential illegitimate opportunities
3 types of illegitimate opportunities, criminal conflict and retreatist

Question 13

Anomie strain theory

Answer 13

Pursuit of economic success leads to lack of concern for others and promotes self interest
Presence of negative stimuli

Question 14

Social learning theory

Answer 14

Deviant behavior is learned through ones interaction with others like any other behavior

Question 15

Sutherland

Answer 15

Deviance occurs in people who have more concentrated criminal than anti criminal contacts

Question 16

Glaser

Answer 16

Individual must identify with criminals, ideas help deciding if that person is going to conform

Question 17

Burgess and Akers

Answer 17

Differential reinforcement or social learning, people will engage in criminal activity if rewarded

Question 18

Control theory

Answer 18

Why people conform not deviate

Accepts idea that deviance can occur naturally without social control

Question 19

Hirshi

Answer 19

Strong bonds to society ensure conformity while weak bonds lead to deviant acts, absence of social control

Question 20

Tittle

Answer 20

Lack of control balance too littl or too much control over others can cause deviance

Question 21

Braithwaite

Answer 21

Proposed shaming as a form of social control

Question 22

Disintegrative shaming

Answer 22

Shunning, stigmatization, banning

Question 23

Reintegrative shaming

Answer 23

More positive in that the wrongdoer is shunned and banished but then openly welcomed back into the community

Question 24

Deterrence doctrine

Answer 24

Emphasizes role of formal social control in deterring deviance, assumes humans are rational and will continue to commit crime unless the cost is severe
Severity certainty and swiftness all can influence crime rate

Question 25

General deterrence

Answer 25

Deter public from committing crime through punishment examples

Question 26

Specific deterrence

Answer 26

Meant to deter criminals from committing more crime

Question 27

Anomie strain theory

Answer 27

Social strain causes deviance

Question 28

Mertons goal means gap

Answer 28

Deviance is prevalent in society because the society encourages people to achieve success without providing equal opportunity for achieving it

Question 29

Cohen’s status frustration

Answer 29

Deviance is prevalent among lower class youths because they fail to achieve status In a middle class school environment

Question 30

Cloward and Ohlin differential illegitimate opportunity

Answer 30

Lower class youths are likely to engage in delinquent activities if they have access to illegitimate opportunity

Question 31

Latest version of theories

Answer 31

The American Dream contributes to deviance by directly encouraging the use of illegal means to achieve success while various social strains cause deviance by producing such emotions as frustration and anger

Question 32

Social learning theory

Answer 32

Deviance is learned through social interaction

Question 33

Sutherlands differential association

Answer 33

People are likely to become deviant if they associate with people holding deviant ideas more then with people holding antigenic the ideas

Question 34

Glasers differential identification

Answer 34

People are likely to become deviant if they identify themselves more with deviants than with non deviants

Question 35

Burgess and Akers differential reinforcement

Answer 35

Elian’s are likely to continue engaging in deviant activities if they have been rewarded more then punished for their past deviance

Question 36

Control theory

Answer 36

Lack of social control causes deviance

Question 37

Social bond, self control and control balance

Answer 37

People are likely to become deviant if their bond to socie and their self control are weak or if they have a control surplus or deficit

Question 38

Braithwaites reintegrative shaming

Answer 38

People are likely to become deviant if they are not made to feel ashamed for their wrong-play or to feel they are integral part of society

Question 39

The deterrence doctrine

Answer 39

People are likely to become deviant if they know their deviant acts are not punished with severity certainty or swiftness