Deck 10: Social Strain and Anomie Theories

Question 1

Which of the following quotes might be attributed to a structural-functionalist?

A) "Society is not just a collection of individuals living among each other; it is more than the sum of its parts."
B) "Punishment needs to be swift, certain, and severe."
C) "The rich get richer and the poor get prison."
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Social strain theories assume that:

A) individual psychological strains are the key to explaining crime.
B) human nature is naturally altruistic and we are corrupted by societal forces.
C) conflict between citizens and law enforcement officials creates stress and crime.
D) biological factors are completely irrelevant to explaining criminal behavior.
E) humans have free will and defy prediction or explanation.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Social strain theories struggle to explain:

A) white-collar crime.
B) drug dealing.
C) burglary.
D) robbery.
E) none of the above.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Merton's social strain theory:

A) argues that people commit crime because they want to be rich.
B) argues that people commit crime because they are under pressure to succeed.
C) argues that people commit crime because they feel they don't have a chance at good jobs.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Question 5

Jason is a small-time criminal and recently joined a motorcycle gang. The gang is characterized by a great deal of disorder and violence; status is based on the ability to fight and intimidate. Many of the members are trying to prove themselves and establish their reputations. Which subculture would Jason's gang fall into, according to Cloward and Ohlin's differential opportunity theory?

A) Fighting
B) Retreatist
C) Rebellion
D) Conflict
E) Criminal

Question 6

Which of the following is not a key institution identified in Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional strain theory?

A) Family
B) Politics (polity)
C) Economy
D) Education
E) Religion

Question 7

Research on social strain theory indicates that:

A) crime results from changing norms and values that accompany shifts to urbanization and industrialization.
B) rehabilitation and treatment can make society a better place.
C) the police need to patrol crime-ridden communities more regularly to lower crime rates.
D) effects of economic pressures and income inequality are mediated through key social institutions such as the family and education.
E) all of the above.

Question 8

Which of the following was not a key practical ramification of social strain theory?

A) The Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Youth Offenses Control Act of 1961
B) The Mobilization for Youth program
C) The Chicago Area Project
D) The war on poverty
E) Economic Opportunity Acts of 1964 and 1967

Question 9

Societies characterized by organic solidarity tend to be old-fashioned and less technologically advanced than those characterized by mechanical solidarity.

Question 10

Merton argued that people were under about the same amount of pressure to commit crime regardless of their social standing.

Question 11

Cohen viewed middle-class male delinquency as a reaction to being raised primarily by women.

Question 12

Differential opportunity suggests that there were four types of gangs: criminal, conflict, ritualistic, and retreatist.

Question 13

Akers's social learning theory is an extension of Merton's strain theory.

Question 14

Social strain theory has consistently been supported by a great deal of research.

Question 15

Social strain theories have proved difficult to test empirically.

Question 16

Institutional strain theory views crime as an unavoidable by-product of the corrupt capitalist system.

Question 17

How do history and culture fit into the development of these theories?

Question 18

What is the level of explanation, problem focus, and scope of the anomie theories?

Question 19

What are some differences between anomie and social disorganization/ecological theories?

Question 20

What are some of the practical approaches and programs suggested by anomie theories?