Deck 8: Control Theory

Question 1

Control theorists begin with the question:

A) Why do juveniles engage in delinquency?
B) Why do juveniles conform?
C) What factors push juveniles into committing delinquent acts?
D) What factors motivate delinquency?
E) What types of interactions are most likely to produce delinquency?

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When asked to indicate why they do NOT engage in delinquency, students often respond by stating that "it would hurt my parents." This response illustrates:

A) direct control
B) investment in conventional activities
C) emotional attachment to conventional others
D) internal control
E) all of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Both social control theory and social learning theory argue that:

A) delinquency is less likely when it is sanctioned and when conformity is reinforced
B) many juveniles hold beliefs favorable to delinquency
C) there are differences in the motivations of delinquents and nondelinquents
D) all juveniles are motivated toward delinquency
E) exposure to delinquent models increases delinquency

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Parents exercise direct control over their children when they:

A) set a curfew
B) keep tabs by asking where their children are going
C) consistently and fairly sanction curfew violations
D) reinforce their children's adherence to the curfew
E) all of the above

Question 5

A college student who does NOT plan on getting her or his undergraduate degree would be described as low in the type of control known as:

A) direct control
B) stake in conformity
C) external control
D) none of the above

Question 6

Which statement best illustrates internal control?

A) "I don't cheat because I don't want to hurt my chances of getting into law school."
B) "I don't cheat because I might get caught and severely punished."
C) "I don't cheat because it would really upset my parents if I got caught."
D) "I don't cheat because it's immoral."

Question 7

Research that examines the relationship among setting rules, monitoring behavior, and delinquency tends to find that:

A) setting clear rules is more important than monitoring behavior
B) monitoring behavior is more important than setting rules
C) low levels of rule setting and monitoring are associated with lower levels of delinquency
D) high levels of rule setting and monitoring are associated with higher levels of delinquency
E) none of the above

Question 8

According to control theory, juveniles have a stake in conformity when:

A) they do not want their parents to think badly of them
B) they put a lot of time into getting an education
C) they anticipate going to college
D) all of the above

Question 9

Individuals with an amoral orientation to delinquency are more likely to engage in delinquency because:

A) they believe delinquency is good
B) they believe delinquency is good under certain conditions
C) they believe delinquency is neither bad nor good
D) none of the above

Question 10

According to control theory, low self-control refers to individual differences in:

A) the motivation for delinquency
B) beliefs regarding delinquency
C) the ability to restrain oneself from acting on one's impulses
D) all of the above

Question 11

Data indicate that certain factors have an important effect on the development of self-control. Which of the following is a factor that contributes to the development of self-control?

A) parental attachment
B) monitoring
C) discipline
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 12

Self-control is usually indexed by several personality traits, including:

A) ambition or motivation
B) low activity levels
C) impulsivity
D) a strong preference for delayed rewards

Question 13

Stephen's mother always requires him to call and check in with her during the day while she is at work. This is an example of:

A) direct monitoring
B) indirect monitoring
C) direct reinforcement
D) indirect reinforcement

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT one of the major types of control discussed by Agnew and Brezina?

A) direct control
B) stake in conformity
C) external control
D) belief

Question 15

Data suggest that punishments using physical violence and verbal abuse are _______.
In fact, they tend to ________ delinquency.

A) not effective; increase
B) effective; decrease
C) not effective; decrease
D) effective; increase

Question 16

What do Agnew and Brezina mean by "effectively sanctioned"?

A) effective sanctions are consistently applied
B) effective sanctions are forceful and involve physical punishment
C) effective sanctions are basically a threat of punishment
D) effective sanctions only involve the juvenile justice system

Question 17

Control theorists tend to focus on:

A) the factors that serve to inhibit delinquency
B) motivations for delinquency
C) enticements of delinquency
D) none of the above

Question 18

Instead of asking why males have a higher rate of delinquency, control theorists are more apt to ask:

A) Why aren't girls just as delinquent as boys?
B) What is stopping girls from engaging in delinquency at the same rate?
C) Why are girls more likely to conform?
D) all of the above

Question 19

Research indicates that young people with strong moral beliefs:

A) are more likely to use drugs
B) are less likely to experience strain
C) are more likely to associate with delinquent peers
D) are less likely to associate with delinquent peers

Question 20

What factors may affect the development of self-control?

A) certain stressful life events
B) physical abuse at an early age
C) criminal victimization
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 21

Briefly explain how control theory differs from strain and social learning theories in its approach to delinquency.

Question 22

Compare and contrast control theory with social learning theory.

Question 23

Discuss assumptions about "human nature" underlying control theory.

Question 24

Control theorists argue that it is NOT necessary to explain why some juveniles engage in delinquency. Rather, we must explain why some juveniles conform. On what basis do control theorists make this argument?

Question 25

Identify the major types of control and explain how they differ from each other.

Question 26

According to social control theory, parents need to exercise direct control if they want to reduce the likelihood of delinquent children. Specify what parents should do in order to exercise direct control. In your answer, clearly identify the four components of direct control and explain how each should be implemented to reduce delinquency.

Question 27

A control theorist would argue that one way to decrease cheating on campus is to increase direct control. What exactly would this involve? (Be sure to describe the major components of direct control in your answer.)

Question 28

Discuss what it means to have a "stake in conformity" and provide examples to illustrate the concept.

Question 29

Use a control perspective to discuss how emotional attachment to parents and investment in education reduce the likelihood for delinquency.

Question 30

Explain what it means to have an amoral orientation to delinquency and then indicate how this affects the likelihood of delinquency. Discuss why some individuals have an amoral orientation toward delinquency.

Question 31

Describe the personality traits associated with low self-control and discuss how these traits increase the likelihood of delinquency.

Question 32

Discuss changes during the adolescent years and thereafter that might increase or decrease levels of self-control.

Question 33

Consider the delinquency of adolescents from upper middle-class families. These youths have a high stake in conformity (e.g., high standards set for their future, involvement in extracurricular activities, etc.). They have a lot to lose but still engage in delinquent acts. How can this be explained?

Question 34

Suppose you want to determine whether control theory can explain underage drinking on campus. You decide to survey a random sample of students.
● List two questions you would ask to measure direct control.
● List two questions you would ask to measure stake in conformity.
● List two questions you would ask to measure internal control.

Question 35

According to control theorists, does attachment to delinquent others help prevent delinquency? Why or why not?

Question 36

Agnew and Brezina point out that all juveniles are subject to more or less the same direct controls at school. Yet some juveniles are very responsive to these controls, whereas others commit deviant acts on a regular basis. How would a control theorist explain these differences?

Question 37

Agnew and Brezina discuss how control is enhanced to the extent that delinquency/deviance is effectively sanctioned. What do they mean by "effectively sanctioned"? Provide examples.

Question 38

Agnew and Brezina point out that children who grow up in "urban war zones" may lose faith in the future when exposed to high levels of serious violence. Studies in this area find that a sense of "futurelessness" is associated with elevated levels of delinquency. Is this idea consistent with the expectations of control theorists? Why or why not?

Question 39

One major component of a person's stake in conformity is his or her investment in conventional society. How does this investment in conventional society help prevent delinquency? Provide examples.

Question 40

Explain how females' moral beliefs surrounding delinquency may differ from males. What are the findings from the current research in this area?