Final Exam chp 7 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES

Question 1

What are sociological theories ?

Answer 1

Theories that examine institutional arrangements within society and the interaction between and among social institutions.
Examine social structure , social process, and impact on social life

Question 2

What are social structure theories ?

Answer 2

theory that explains crime by reference to ECONOMIC & SOCIAL ARRANGEMENTS (social structure) in society . See social structure of society as the cause of crime and deviance. Predict that negative aspect of societal structure such as poverty, income inequality, education disadvantages produce criminal behavior. Crime is the result of an individuals LOCATION within the structure of society.

Question 3

Describe Social Disorganization Theory

Answer 3

One of the 3 major types of social structure theories
aka the ECOLOGICAL APPORACH
when a group faces social change, social conflict and lack of social consensus = the root cause of crime and deviance
Sees crime and deviance as a DISEASE of SOCIAL PATHOLOGY
Developed by the Chicago school, Chicago Area Project, demographics, concentric zones, delinquency areas as cultural transmission
a persons residential location a factor shaping the likelihood that they will become involved in illegal activity
W.I Thomas & Florian Znaniecki found crime rates rose amongst displaced ppl. said it was social disorganization resulting from immigrants inability to successfully transplant norms and vales into new one

Question 4

What are Robert Park & Ernest Burgess known for ?

Answer 4

They are known for the development of 
SOCIAL ECOLOGY . 
SOCIAL ECOLOGY MOVEMENT.
******CONCENTRIC ZONES******
Created SOCIAL PATHOLOGY- concept that compares society to a physical organism and sees criminality as an illness.

Question 5

What is social ecology ?

Answer 5

Focus on how the structure of society ADAPTS to the QUALITY of natural resources and to the EXISTENCE of other human groups.
(PARKS & BURGESS)

Question 6

What are W.I Thomas and Florian Znaniecki known for ?

Answer 6

Created the notion of SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION
Said the cause of social disorganization resulted from immigrants inability to transplant norms and values from home culture to new ones.
Found crime rates rose among displaced ppl

Question 7

What is social pathology ?

Answer 7

Concept that compares society to a physical organism and SEES CRIMINALITY AS AN ILLNESS
SOCIETY IS PATHOLOGICAL OR SICK AND MAY PRODUCE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AMONG THOSE EXPOSES TO THE CONDITION

Question 8

What are Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay known for ?

Answer 8

Applied concentric zones to study of juvenile delinquency.
Found that rates of offending remained constant within zones of transition and concluded that delinquency was caused by the environment in which they live rather than the characters of immigrant themselves
Believed social disorganization was the inability of local communities to solve common problems(racial mobility and population heterogeneity “mix of people”, high poverty rates, physical decay)

Question 9

What is cultural transmission ?

Answer 9

Developed by Shaw and McKay
the idea of delinquency is transmitted through Traditions of delinquency are transmitted through successive generations of the same zone. ( the same process in which social roles, languages and attitudes are)

Question 10

What are ecological theories ?

Answer 10

A sociological approach that emphasizes DEMOGRAPHICS (The characteristics of POPULATION groups) and GEOGRAPHICS (The location of groups) as cause of criminality and delinquency

Question 11

What is the Chicago School Of Study ?

Answer 11

An ecological approach to explaining crime that examines how social disorganization contributes to social pathology.
(demographics and geographic).

Question 12

What is criminology of Place ?

Answer 12

The perspective that emphasizes the importance of GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION and ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES as an association with the prevalence of victimization.
AKA - environmental criminology

Question 13

What is environmental criminology ?

Answer 13

A perspective that emphasizes the importance of GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION and ARTECHICTUARL FEATURES as an association with the prevalence of criminal victimization.
AKA - CRIMINOLOGY OF PLACE

Question 14

What are “hot spots”

Answer 14

Place-based crimes such as :
NEIGHBORHOODS
SPECIFIC STREES
HOUSES AND BUSINESSES

Question 15

What is the broken windows thesis ?

Answer 15

The perspective that physical deterioration in areas leads to increased concerns for safety and higher crime rates in that area

Question 16

What is defensible space ?

Answer 16

Range of mechanisms combined to bring an environment under the control of its residents. Developed by Oscar Newman

Question 17

what is collective efficacy ?

Answer 17

Shared power of a group of connected and engaged individuals to influence the maintenance of public order. meet common goals and preserved shared values.

Question 18

What are James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling known for ?

Answer 18

Developed the broken windows perspective.

Question 19

What theory is Robert K. Merton associated with ?

Answer 19

Strain Theory
Lack of fit between socially approved success goals and socially approved means to achieve those goals.
Individuals unable to succeed through legitimate means turn to other avenues

Question 20

What are the typologies associated with Merton’s Strain theory ?

Answer 20

GOALS AND MEANS DISJUNCTION

CONFORMITY ++
INNOVATION +  -
RITUALISM -+
RETREATISM - -
REBELLION +/- +/-

Question 21

What is anomie ?

Answer 21

A disjunction between socially approved means to success and legitimate goals.
legitimate goals ( wealth, status, personal happiness)
acceptable means( education, hard work, finical savings) are not equally available

Question 22

What is General Strain Theory ?

Answer 22

Developed by Robert Agnew .
Perspective that law breaking behavior is a coping mechanism for those engaged in it for dealing with socioemotional problems.
strain increases the likelihood of crime

Question 23

What theory is Robert Agnew associated with ?

Answer 23

General Strain Theory

Question 24

What is strain theory ?

Answer 24

ONE OF THE 3 MAJOR TYPES OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES

Lack of fit between socially approved success goals and socially approved means to achieve those goals.
Individuals unable to succeed through legitimate means turn to other avenues

STRAIN occurs when other do the following :

1) Prevent an individual from achieving positively valued goals
2) Remove positively valued stimuli
3) Prevent or threaten to present someone whith noxious or negatively valued stimuli

Question 25

What is culture conflict theory ? (3RD SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORY)

Answer 25

Developed by Thorsten Sellin

The root cause of crime is clash of VALUES between various subcultural groups over what is ACCEPTABLE or PROPER BEHAVIOR

Question 26

What are conduct norms ?

Answer 26

Developed by Thorsten Sellin

Clash of norms between variously socialized groups
human behavior acquired early in life through childhood and socialization

TYPES > Primary Conflict = Results from fundamental clash of cultures
> Secondary Conflict = Arises when smaller cultures within the primary one clash

Question 27

What is a subcultural theory ?

Answer 27

perspective that emphasizes that subcultures form their own norms and values as a response to failing at obtain legitimate means of success

Question 28

what is a subculture ?

Answer 28

A collection of VALUES and PREFRENCES that is communicated to subcultural participants through a process of SOCIALIZATION

Question 29

What are focal concerns ?

Answer 29

Key values of delinquent subcultures :

Trouble > getting in it, staying out if it, dealing with it
Toughness >Concerns with masculinity
Smartness > Ability to outsmart or con others and avoid being DUPED
Excitement >Search for thrills
Fate > The concept of luck or being lucky
Autonomy > Taking care of oneself not getting pushed around

Question 30

How did Walter Miller describe lower-class culture ?

Answer 30

A long established, well distinctively patterned tradition with an integrity of its own. Developed focal concerns

Question 31

How did Sykes and Matza describe delinquency and drift ?

Answer 31

Offenders and delinquents are aware of the conventional values
They understand that their offending is wrong

BUT …
Engage in neutralizing “SELF-TALK” before offending to mitigate the shame and guilt associated with violating social norms.

Question 32

What are techniques of Neutralization “Self-talk”

Answer 32

(SELF-TALK )
Offenders can overcome feeling responsible when involved in crime using 5 justifications.
Justifications that allow for offenders to deny responsibility for their criminal behavior

Question 33

What are the 5 techniques of neutralization (SELF-TALK)

Answer 33

DENYING RESPONSIBILITY > “Its not my fault”
DENYING INJURY > Everyone one does it, the victim can afford it (stealing from Walmart or a rich person)
DENYING THE VICTIM > deny of justify the harm, the victim DESERVES IT. (I only beat up drunks)
CONDEMNING THE CONDEMNERS > Society has made them the way they are. Authority is corrupt and responsible for their behavior
APPEALING TO HIGHER LOYALTIES > Use defense of their family honor, gang or girlfriend or neighborhood.(I HAVE TO PROTECT MYSELF)

Question 34

How do Ferracuti and Wolfgang describe the subculture of violence

Answer 34

Violence is learned from adaptation to problematic life circumstances
Violence takes place within the context of the subculture
The subculture expects violence from their members and justify it when it occurs

Question 35

What does Albert Cohen mean by reaction formation ?

Answer 35

A person openly rejects what he or she wants or aspires to but cannot obtain or achieve .

Children from deprived backgrounds turn to delinquency because they experience STATUS FRUSTRATION when judged by adults and others because they are not able to achieve standard goals set by society.

Question 36

According to Elijah Anderson, what is the code of the street ?

Answer 36

manhood resting on the idea of respect.

in the street a mans sense of worth is determined by the respect he commands when in public

Question 37

According to Elijah Anderson, what is the difference between a street family and a decent family

Answer 37

Street family geared toward the street

decent family trying to uphold positive values

Question 38

What does anderson mean by the term “juice”

Answer 38

respect

people who embrace the street code