Deck 10: Social Learning Theories: Peer Group Influences

Question 1

Padilla studied a Chicago Puerto Rican gang called the "Diamonds." He reported that the primary organizing force of the gang was:

A) "hanging out."
B) playing basketball.
C) street drug sales.
D) fighting other gangs.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Social learning theory refers to the attitudes and beliefs attached to behavior as:

A) definitions.
B) imitation.
C) hyperbole.
D) classical conditioning.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Social learning theory extends differential association theory by considering how peers reward attitudes and behaviors. This process is called:

A) classical conditioning.
B) peer acceptance.
C) differential reinforcement.
D) latent affirmation.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Differential association and social learning theories contend that _____________ are the main cause of delinquent behavior.

A) inadequate parents
B) inherited tendencies
C) weak social bonds
D) delinquent friends

Question 5

Burgess and Akers refer to the social processes of rewards and punishments as:

A) operant conditioning.
B) differential reinforcement.
C) differential association.
D) classical conditioning.

Question 6

Burgess and Akers' social learning theory incorporates principles from behavioral learning theory, especially:

A) the control group.
B) negative stimuli.
C) operant conditioning.
D) classical conditioning.

Question 7

Burgess and Akers extended differential association theory in a revised version called ______________ theory.

A) differential identification
B) differential association-reinforcement
C) gender association
D) social selection

Question 8

Differential association theory argues that delinquent behavior is:

A) caused by social strain.
B) genetic.
C) learned.
D) the result of labeling.

Question 9

The belief that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other people in a process of communication is a basic principle of ______________ theory.

A) self-control
B) social bond
C) differential association
D) rational choice

Question 10

_____________ theory proposes that youth may engage in delinquency because they are imitating the behaviors of peers.

A) Social bond
B) Social learning
C) Self-control
D) Strain

Question 11

The tendency to seek out individuals like oneself is referred to as the:

A) socialization perspective.
B) social mimicry hypothesis.
C) selection perspective.
D) self-identity process.

Question 12

Horowitz found that the Chicano gang she studied in Chicago placed great emphasis on:

A) violence.
B) honor.
C) initiation ceremonies.
D) All of the above.

Question 13

Moore reported three distinctive characteristics of Chicano gangs. Which of the following is NOT one of these characteristics?

A) Predominated by fighting
B) Strongly age-graded
C) Territorially based
D) Mixed gender

Question 14

Decker and Van Winkle contend that _____________ is probably the single most important aspect of gang culture.

A) drug use
B) competition
C) violence
D) loyalty

Question 15

In the _____________ model of gang influence, youth who are already involved in delinquent acts are attracted to and recruited by gangs because the norms and values of the gang are consistent with their own.

A) enhancement
B) social facilitation
C) group cohesion
D) socialization

Question 16

The view that gang values and expectations encourage gang members' involvement in crime is called the _____________ model of gang influence.

A) enhancement
B) social facilitation
C) group cohesion
D) selection

Question 17

The first systematic study of delinquent gangs was conducted by:

A) the Gluecks.
B) Thrasher.
C) Hirschi.
D) Miller.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding gender and peer-group influence?

A) Males are more likely than females to be exposed to delinquent friends.
B) Females spend more time with friends than males do, and so are subjected to greater peer influence.
C) Females are more strongly affected by delinquent friends than males are.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 19

_____________ theory takes issue with the idea that delinquents have comparatively warm, intimate social relationships with each other.

A) Social bond
B) Social learning
C) Differential association
D) Social strain

Question 20

Sutherland's differential association theory is stated in the form of _____________ propositions.

A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 9

Question 21

According to differential association theory, the influence of relationships within groups varies in:

A) priority.
B) duration.
C) frequency.
D) All of the above.

Question 22

According to differential association theory, what aspects of group association determine the level of peer influence?

A) Definitions, modeling, imitation, and reinforcement
B) Frequency, duration, priority, and intensity
C) Stability, trust, self-disclosure, and rewards
D) Group size, transience, modeling, and reinforcement

Question 23

Control theories minimize the importance of peer-group influences, arguing that delinquency results from weak social bonds or lack of self-control.

Question 24

The tendency to seek out individuals like oneself is referred to as the consistent self perspective.

Question 25

Edwin Sutherland developed social learning theory.

Question 26

Differential association and social learning theories contend that delinquent friends are the main cause of delinquency.

Question 27

Differential association theory is a social control theory.

Question 28

Research indicates that juveniles who commit crime with others commit more crime and are involved in more serious offenses.

Question 29

The number of delinquent friends an adolescent has is only a weak predictor of delinquent behavior.

Question 30

Youth who have delinquent peers are more likely to be delinquent themselves.

Question 31

Research does NOT support the contention that the more involved a youth is with delinquent friends, the more likely he or she is to engage in delinquency.

Question 32

Most research indicates that the friendships of delinquent youth, even seriously delinquent youth, are not very different from those of non-delinquent youth.

Question 33

Differential association theory is a theory of:

A) social learning.
B) social control.
C) social bonding.
D) social strain.

Question 34

_____________ theory contends that the mechanism for transmitting delinquent behavior is communication within peer groups.

A) Differential association
B) Social bond
C) Self-control
D) Strain

Question 35

The focus is on peer group relations in _____________ theory.

A) social control
B) differential association
C) rational choice
D) labeling

Question 36

The term _______________ refers to the fact that delinquency occurs most often in the company of peers.

A) selection
B) imitation
C) co-offending
D) social control

Question 37

Despite social scientists' strong interest in gangs, there is no widely agreed-upon definition of a gang.

Question 38

Gang members commit a disproportionate percentage of violent crimes, but not property crimes.

Question 39

Gang members commit more frequent, but less serious crimes, compared to delinquent youth who are not gang members.

Question 40

Research has found that males and females are affected differently by exposure to delinquent peers.

Question 41

Research reveals that delinquent acts are committed most often in the company of peers.