Deck 9: Social Control Theories: Family Relations

Question 1

Which of the following statements about family structure and delinquency is true?

A) Delinquents are more likely to come from small families than from large families.
B) First-born children are more likely to engage in delinquency than are middle or last-born children.
C) Family structure is not related to delinquency.
D) Family disruption is related to delinquency because of the effect of disruption on relationship bonds and parental supervision.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

To test their life-course theory, Sampson and Laub used the original data of which well-known researchers?

A) Shaw and McKay
B) Burgess and Park
C) Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck
D) Gottfredson and Hirschi

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The element of the social bond that includes attitudes toward the law that encourage conformity is referred to as:

A) belief
B) attachment
C) commitment
D) involvement

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which element of the social bond controls delinquency by consuming a youth's time and energy?

A) Belief
B) Attachment
C) Commitment
D) Involvement

Question 5

Hirschi described four elements of an individual's social bond to society. Which of the following is NOT one of these elements?

A) Attachment
B) Belief
C) Conformity
D) Involvement

Question 6

Intimacy of communication between parent and child is a measure of ________________.

A) belief
B) attachment
C) commitment
D) involvement

Question 7

Which of the following is generally regarded as the primary element of the social bond?

A) Attachment
B) Belief
C) Commitment
D) Involvement

Question 8

______________ controls are those restrictions and punishments imposed by others that restrict behavior and the rewards that encourage and reinforce positive behavior.

A) Internalized
B) External
C) Direct
D) Indirect

Question 9

____________ theory is a developmental approach that attempts to bring childhood and adulthood into the criminological picture.

A) Social bond
B) Life-course
C) Low self-control
D) Labeling

Question 10

The term ____________ refers to the age-graded sequence of culturally-defined roles and social transitions.

A) life course
B) trajectory
C) involvement
D) commitment

Question 11

Sampson and Laub propose four family socialization factors that significantly increase the likelihood of delinquent behavior. Which of the following is NOT one of those factors?

A) Erratic, threatening, and harsh discipline
B) Low parental supervision
C) Parental crime and deviance
D) Weak emotional attachment between parent and child

Question 12

Which dimension of parental discipline is most closely related to low levels of delinquency?

A) Very strict discipline
B) Loving discipline
C) Physical discipline
D) Consistent discipline

Question 13

Which one of the following statements regarding family life and delinquency is false?

A) The stricter the parental discipline, the less likely a child is to be delinquent.
B) Indirect controls derived from parent-child attachment inhibit delinquency.
C) Parent-child relationships characterized by conflict result in limited parental control.
D) Direct parental controls are related to low levels of delinquency.

Question 14

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi's theory, the development of self-control is linked primarily to:

A) effective parenting
B) association with prosocial peers
C) strict rules imposed in school
D) Both A and B.

Question 15

Individuals with low self-control tend to be all of the following except _____________.

A) impulsive
B) insensitive
C) verbal
D) physical

Question 16

Describing the nature of crime, Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that:

A) crimes are generally short-lived and immediately gratifying.
B) most crimes are complex and require some skill.
C) the vast majority of criminal acts are not trivial.
D) All of the above.

Question 17

Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that crimes are committed by persons who:

A) have a low IQ.
B) fail to develop self-control.
C) have a low level of moral reasoning.
D) All of the above.

Question 18

Testing life-course theory, Sampson and Laub found that social capital derived from ______________ significantly reduced deviance during adulthood.

A) marriage and work
B) education and work
C) education and social class
D) military service and social class

Question 19

The term ____________ refers to the obligations and restraints that are part of adult relationship bonds and that result in informal social control.

A) life course
B) social capital
C) trajectory
D) conformity

Question 20

______________ controls are exercised from within the individual through conscience or sense of guilt.

A) Direct
B) Indirect
C) Internalized
D) External

Question 21

______________ controls are based on affectional identification with others, such that an individual conforms in order to maintain relationship bonds and avoid disappointing others.

A) Direct
B) Indirect
C) Internalized
D) External

Question 22

Research has shown that the element of the social bond that is the best predictor of delinquency is commitment.

Question 23

Research has shown that the elements of the social bond are more strongly related to minor delinquency than to serious delinquency.

Question 24

Hirschi argues that any activity that consumes a youth's time and energy will prevent delinquency.

Question 25

According to Hirschi, the four elements of an individual's social bond to society are attachment, conformity, involvement, and belief.

Question 26

In his social bond theory, Hirschi argues that attachment to peers increases the likelihood of delinquency.

Question 27

Attachment is generally regarded as the primary element of the social bond in Hirschi's theory.

Question 28

Hirschi was most concerned with the question of what motivates young people to get involved in delinquency.

Question 29

Sociologists have always claimed that formal social controls are more important in explaining conformity than are informal social controls.

Question 30

In their theory, Sampson and Laub are concerned with transitions and turning points in the life course.

Question 31

Life-course theory emphasizes the importance of social bonds as the primary means of informal social control.

Question 32

Self-control theory explains crime and also "analogous acts" such as accidents, smoking, and alcohol use.

Question 33

Nye differentiated three major forms of control and demonstrated how family relations play a vital role in the development and application of these controls. Which of the following is NOT one of these controls?

A) Direct controls
B) Indirect controls
C) Internalized controls
D) Externalized controls

Question 34

Social control theories focus on:

A) the development of subcultural values.
B) the process of social learning.
C) the adoption of a criminal lifestyle.
D) the strength of relationship ties among individuals.

Question 35

Parental criminality contributes to children's delinquency indirectly, through weakened parental controls of children.

Question 36

Delinquents are more likely to come from large families than from small families.

Question 37

Research shows that direct parental controls such as consistent discipline and supervision are related to low levels of delinquency.

Question 38

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, self-control is an inherited trait, present at birth.

Question 39

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi's theory, the origins of self-control are primarily in effective social control experiences in schools.

Question 40

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime holds that crimes are committed by persons who fail to develop self-control.

Question 41

Social control theories pay close attention to the family as an institution of social control.