Deck 9: Durkheim, Anomie and Strain

Question 1

Durkheim argued that crime should be considered to be a normal element in any properly functioning society.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Organic solidarity is characterised by

A)more complex formations where there is a relatively highly-differentiated division of labour
B)social solidarity organised around difference rather than similarity
C)people not using chemicals
D)the primary function of law being to regulate the interactions between the different parts of society and between members

Answer 2

more complex formations where there is a relatively highly-differentiated division of labour
social solidarity organised around difference rather than similarity
the primary function of law being to regulate the interactions between the different parts of society and between members

Question 3

In his study of suicide, Durkheim argued that:

A)Rates of suicide were higher in Protestant than Catholic countries.
B)Single people were more prone to suicide than those who were married.
C)Suicide among military personnel was higher than among civilians.
D)Suicide rates drop in times of war.
E)Suicide rates were higher in times of economic crisis than stability.

Answer 3

Rates of suicide were higher in Protestant than Catholic countries.
Single people were more prone to suicide than those who were married.
Suicide among military personnel was higher than among civilians.
Suicide rates drop in times of war.
Suicide rates were higher in times of economic crisis than stability.

Question 4

Robert Merton saw anomie as resulting from:

A)greed
B)the absence of alignment between socially-desired aspirations, such as wealth, and the means available to people to achieve such objectives
C)the growing availability of portable consumer goods
D)the 'American dream'

Question 5

In contemporary society crime, for Messner and Rosenfeld, is a product of:

A)poor parenting
B)dominance of free-market economics
C)society's elevation of material success above all other goals
D)a cultural tendency toward anomie

Question 6

What did Merton argue caused 'strain to anomie'?

Question 7

What are the four deviant adaptations for those who don't conform according to Merton?

Question 8

Under what circumstances did Cloward and Ohlin suggest that people will experience strains and tensions that lead to 'delinquent solutions'?

Question 9

Why did general strain theory decline in popularity?

Question 10

Mechanical solidarity is characterised by:

A)a relatively undifferentiated division of labour
B)People living fairly common, shared lives in which work is generally identical and values
C)a social order largely organised through similarity, and social norms enforced through retributive sanctions
D)Societies where machines are very important to production
E)retributive sanctioning serving to identify and exclude offenders and to treat them as outsiders

Question 11

For Durkheim crime plays a number of important functions, including:

A)it has an adaptive function in that it introduces new ideas and practices into society
B)it allows society to imprison people
C)it creates employment
D)It also has a boundary maintenance function, reinforcing social values and norms

Question 12

'Anomie' is where moral constraints are insufficient effectively to limit individual desires.

Question 13

Durkheim thought crime could be eradicated from society completely.

Question 14

Durkheim thought that more the more crime in society the better.

Question 15

How did Durkheim say that crimes are best understood?

A)as actions that must be eradicated from society
B)violations of a moral code
C)symptomatic of societal breakdown
D)a danger to society

Question 16

What positive function does punishing people have for society?

A)it helps to provide employment
B)prisons can be helpful in terms of rehabilitation
C)it reinforces legal and moral rules
D)people can have revenge

Question 17

Strain theory is based on the idea that:

A)people work too hard and make themselves ill
B)ideas such as the 'American dream' raise unrealistic expectations
C)crime can be caused by the push and pull of capitalism
D)white collar crime is endemic

Question 18

What is strain theory said to ignore?

A)young people
B)victims of crime
C)human agency
D)white collar crime

Question 19

What is the connection between strain theory and anomie?

A)strains occur in societies that are poor and underdeveloped
B)anomie occurs where moral constraints are insufficient to limit individual desires for unattainable goals
C)the connection shows that suicide rates are increasing
D)anomie is a sort of disease resulting from too much strain

Question 20

What are the pressures the 'American dream' exerts toward crime, according to Messner and Rosenfeld (2001)?