Chapter 5: Social Control Theory

Question 1

What is so unique about control theory that sets it apart from other theories?

Answer 1

It asks the question why DONT people commit crimes

Question 2

According to social control theory, what is the control that keeps us from committing crimes?

Answer 2

Bonds. When controls (bonds) are present, crime does not occur.

Question 3

What is the main theoretical premise of social control theory?

Answer 3

Because crime is fun, enjoyable, and rewarding when controls are absent, crime is possible and often does occur.

Question 4

Who created anomie theory?

Answer 4

Durkheim

Question 5

Control theory was most popular in what year?

Answer 5

1960’s

Question 6

According to Durkheim, what two sets of functions was maintained by social solidarity?

Answer 6

1) integration-a state of cohesion

2) regulation-sum of social forces of constraint that bound individuals to norms.

Question 7

Durkheim would say that…

Answer 7

technology and the rise of capitalism as well as competition has led to this eroded sense of community.

Question 8

What 2 chicago school themes remained central throughout control and the disorganization perspective?

Answer 8

1) the interpretations of human nature

2) the nature of community

Question 9

What was Charles Cooley’s Theory?

Answer 9

The looking glass self

Question 10

what is the main primary group that influences us in the theory of the looking glass self?

Answer 10

The family.

Question 11

What was Sykes and Matza’s theory

Answer 11

Neutralization and Drift

Question 12

What are the seven neutralizations?

Answer 12

1) Denial of responsibility
2) Denial of injury
3) Denial of the victim
4) Condemnation of the condemners
5) Appeal to higher loyalties
6) Defense of necessity
7) Everybody does it
8) Justification by comparison
9) Postponement

Question 13

Who added on the last couple neutralizations to Sykes and Matza’s list?

Answer 13

Coleman

Question 14

What was George Herbert Mead’s theory?

Answer 14

The I and me

Question 15

What did Albert Reiss believe?

Answer 15

That a combination of personal control and social control would predict your likelihood of engaging in delinquency.

Question 16

What did Nye seek to explain?

Answer 16

Why delinquent and criminal behavior is not more common.

Question 17

According to Nye, what/who has the most important social control over adolescents?

Answer 17

Family

Question 18

What controls does Nye mention?

Answer 18

1) direct control
2) internalized control
3) indirect control
4) control through alternative means of satisfaction
(These types of control are mutually reinforcing)

Question 19

Who theorized containment theory?

Answer 19

Walter Reckless

Question 20

What are the two types of containment and what do they mean?

Answer 20

outer containment-the social pressures that would either keep us out of crime or perhaps push us into it and inner containment-things within a person/characteristics they had that would either prevent or lead to crime.

Question 21

What are the key factors of inner containment?

Answer 21

self concept
goal orientation
frustration tolerance
norm retention

Question 22

What breaks the social control according to containment theory?

Answer 22

push and pull (the bonds that break the social control) would bring you out of containment (the social control)