Deck 7: Strain Theories of Crime

Question 1

Strain theories generally make the case that people are more likely to commit crime when they are what?

A) Poor and/or lower class
B) Psychologically disturbed
C) Frustrated or under stress
D) Pushed beyond limits

Answer 1

Frustrated or under stress

Question 2

What is assumed about people's basic motivations in almost all strain theories?

A) Self-fulfillment is what everyone strives for.
B) People are naturally lazy.
C) Instincts are naturally lazy.
D) Most people would like to be law-abiding.

Answer 2

Most people would like to be law-abiding.

Question 3

While Durkheim argued that anomie was the result of poor regulation by social institutions, Merton argued that anomie was the result of what?

A) Poor conjunction, or fit, between psychological states and sociological processes
B) Poor integration of cultural goals and structural means for obtaining goals
C) Bad people trying to fit in a good society
D) Good people trying to get by in a bad society

Answer 3

Poor integration of cultural goals and structural means for obtaining goals

Question 4

Durkheim studied what kind of crime to demonstrate the causal influence of anomie?

A) Suicide
B) Homicide
C) Robbery
D) Rape

Question 5

With Merton's strain theory, the alleged materialism of American society is part of what component of the theory?

A) Goals
B) Means
C) Social structure
D) Innovation

Question 6

Merton proposed there were how many ways people can respond to, or cope with, strain?

A) Two
B) Five
C) Ten
D) Twelve

Question 7

In Merton's strain theory, which way of coping with strain would be typical of a white-collar criminal, for example?

A) Innovation
B) Ritualism
C) Retreatism
D) Rebellion

Question 8

In Merton's strain theory, which way of coping with strain would be typical of a revolutionary or militant, for example?

A) Innovation
B) Ritualism
C) Retreatism
D) Rebellion

Question 9

What was Cloward and Ohlin's strain theory called in criminology?

A) Goal-means theory
B) Systematic strain theory
C) Differential opportunity theory
D) A delinquent subculture typology

Question 10

Which subculture in Cloward and Ohlin's typology emerges when there are no opportunities for financially rewarding crime and the only means by which status can be earned is through toughness?

A) Conventional
B) Criminal
C) Violent
D) Retreatist

Question 11

Which of the following was NOT a criticism in the criminological literature of Merton's strain theory?

A) That criminals were essentially as ambitious as anyone else in society
B) That not everyone was as single-minded about material success
C) That social class was a weak predictor of criminal activity
D) That crime, in fact, does not pay very well

Question 12

Which component of Agnew's general strain theory is the source of strain that earlier strain theories focused on?

A) The failure to cope with economic competition
B) The failure to achieve positively valued goals
C) The removal of something positively valued
D) The imposition of noxious stimuli

Question 13

What component of general strain theory would involve, for example, a person who feels that others they interact with simply ask too much from them?

A) The failure to cope with economic competition
B) The failure to achieve positively valued goals
C) The removal of something positively valued
D) The imposition of noxious stimuli

Question 14

Which of the following are sources of strain according to Agnew?

A) Failure to achieve positively valued goals
B) The removal of a positively valued object
C) The imposition of noxious stimuli
D) All of the above

Question 15

Which type of coping in Agnew's strain theory might result in criminal behavior as an attempt to alleviate the source of the strain?

A) Cognitive
B) Behavioral
C) Emotional
D) Interpersonal

Question 16

Which type of coping in Agnew's strain theory is most commonly characterized by a tendency to not deal with the source of the strain?

A) Cognitive
B) Behavioral
C) Emotional
D) Interpersonal

Question 17

Which part of Agnew's strain theory borrows the most from other theories of crime?

A) That there is more than one source of strain
B) That how one copes with strain is important
C) That certain things are important only if a person cares
D) That some people may be already predisposed to crime

Question 18

Which part of Agnew's strain theory has yet to be extensively empirically tested?

A) Whether presentation of noxious stimuli can cause strain or is stressful
B) Whether strain is more likely to lead to crime when the strain is seen as unjust
C) Whether the presence or absence of social support is an important condition
D) Whether exposure to strain increases the likelihood of engaging in crime

Question 19

Which component of Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional anomie theory is the one which says all Americans are expected to set and achieve goals?

A) Achievement
B) Individualism
C) Universalism
D) Money fetish

Question 20

According to Messner and Rosenfeld's theory, serious crime results when which part of the social structure begins to penetrate and devalue the importance of other parts of the social structure?

A) Economic
B) Political
C) Family
D) Education

Question 21

Strain theory makes extensive use of psychology in almost all its ideas about the effects of stress and the satisfaction of desires.

Question 22

External circumstances that place us in situations we don't like are major components in most strain theories.

Question 23

The concept of the American Dream as universally accepted is the starting point for some strain theories.

Question 24

Merton pointed out that sometimes what is considered a virtue can lead to vice.

Question 25

Merton's strain theory received extensive criminological attention for almost two decades immediately after its publication in 1938.

Question 26

Criminologists have found overwhelming support for all versions of strain theory.

Question 27

Agnew's general strain theory was developed in the early 1990s.

Question 28

Agnew's general strain theory departed from Merton's strain theory by expanding on the sources of strain but keeping Merton's ways of coping with strain.

Question 29

Messner and Rosenfeld's strain theory has NOT received as much empirical testing as Agnew's strain theory.

Question 30

Strain theories have NOT traditionally had much influence on public policy.

Question 31

Extensive research has been conducted and provided overwhelming support regarding Messner and Rosenfeld's theory.

Question 32

When individuals minimize their failures or accept responsibility for their failures they are engaging in cognitive coping.

Question 33

According to general strain theory, crime will be more likely when individuals express which following trait(s)?

A) low self-control
B) criminal beliefs
C) exposure to delinquent models
D) all of the above

Question 34

According to general strain theory, crime will be more likely when individuals only express criminal beliefs.

Question 35

Individualism refers to the ideas that Americans are expected to overcome others competing for the same rewards.

Question 36

Agnew (1999) recently extended his theory to explain community crime rates.

Question 37

According to Merton's theory, when a lack of regulation exists because of a breakdown in society a state of _______________ develops wherein people are more likely to commit crime.

Question 38

The _______________ ____________ refers to the belief that emphasis in the U.S. is placed on monetary and material success.

Question 39

_______________ subcultures arise when there are no opportunities for legitimate gain, but illegitimate opportunities are still available.

Question 40

Agnew et al. (2002) argued that _______________ ____________ or personality factors are the most significant contributors to crime.

Question 41

Messner and Rosenfeld argued that when the desire to make money takes precedence over family, education, etc. then _______________ is more likely to occur.

Question 42

Some people are better prepared to mitigate potential sources of strain and able to resolve stressful situations. However, one who has __________ __________ __________ and experiences strain may turn to delinquent coping.

Question 43

Merton proposed when people are faced with an obstacle to achieve their desires and strain occurs there are five ways for people to _______ with strain.

Question 44

Messner and Rosenfeld said American Dream has 4 orientations which they identified as _______, ________, ________, and _________ _________.

Question 45

Merton redefined ______ as a discrepancy between goals and means as a result of the way society is structured.

Question 46

An individual is more prone to crime who has no one to listen to their feelings, give advice or assistance and, therefore, have an absence of __________ social supporters.

Question 47

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Violent subculture

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 48

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Achievement

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 49

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Conformity

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 50

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Anomie

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 51

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-American Dream

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 52

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Means

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 53

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Behavioral coping

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 54

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Retreatism

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 55

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Goals

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 56

Match the terms with the appropriate definitions and/or descriptions

-Money fetish

A) An individual's response to strain where they no longer strive to achieve legitimate goals and abandon legitimate means
B) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern what society is socialized to want
C) One of the distinctive value orientations that indicates society is expected to strive for success
D) One distinctive value Americans are expected to set and attain. It is only measured in success and not in failure.
E) Criminal subculture where strain exists but there are no means, legitimate or illegitimate to deal with the strain
F) Label for American culture that maintains what Americans should strive to achieve
G) The aspects of American culture that are relevant for crime that concern the rules society is expected to follow while striving to achieve goals
H) A method of coping with strain by continuing to strive for the American Dream and obey society rules
I) Coping with strain through actual behaviors
J) Normlessness

Question 57

Give two examples of innovation, as conceived of in Merton's theory, one a crime example, and the other, a non-crime example.

Question 58

Explain how Cloward and Ohlin extended Merton's strain theory, and assess whether this extension remained consistent with Merton's economic focus or not.

Question 59

Describe Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld's 1994 published work that revived Merton's original theory. List their four distinctive value orientations and four important institutions.

Question 60

Describe the significant assumptions and elements of Agnew's general strain theory. Give one example of a situation where an individual copes with strain with delinquent behavior.

Question 61

According to Merton's original theory, discuss the main arguments and assumptions of his strain theory.