Question 1

Which of the following is NOT necessary for the commission of a crime under routine activities theory?

Accepted Answer

Routine activities theory posits that three elements must be present for a crime to occur: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardianship. The availability of a weapon (C) is not considered a necessary condition under this theory.

Question 2

Which theory posits that offenders make choices of if, when, and where to commit a crime based on presented opportunities?

Accepted Answer

Rational Choice Theory posits that offenders make decisions about committing crimes based on a rational assessment of the available opportunities, risks, and benefits.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a primary source of collective efficacy?

Accepted Answer

Collective efficacy refers to the social cohesion among neighbors combined with their willingness to intervene on behalf of the common good. The primary sources of collective efficacy are often categorized into private, parochial, and public domains, which relate to the different levels of social engagement and community involvement. Pastoral, however, does not fit into the framework of collective efficacy as it typically refers to spiritual guidance and care, rather than a source of community social cohesion and intervention.

Question 4

The attribution of results based on group data to individuals is called:

Accepted Answer

The ecological fallacy occurs when conclusions about individual-level processes are drawn from group-level data. This mistake involves making inferences about individuals based solely on analyses of group data, which can lead to incorrect conclusions because the characteristics of groups do not always accurately represent the characteristics of individuals within those groups.

Question 5

In which subcultural theory does failure to succeed in terms of middle-class values result in diminished self-worth and acting in concert with subcultural groups and norms instead of larger culture mandates?

Accepted Answer

Lower Class Gang Delinquency theory posits that individuals who fail to achieve success through conventional, middle-class means may experience decreased self-esteem and seek validation and success through gang involvement and adherence to the norms and values of the subculture, diverging from mainstream societal expectations.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a factor contributing to the learning process?

Accepted Answer

The learning process is influenced by social interactions, observations, and the outcomes of behaviors rather than by an individual's intelligence quotient (IQ). IQ might affect the pace or style of learning but is not a direct contributing factor to the process itself.

Question 7

Which theory holds that deviance is a direct result of a social structure that stresses achievement but fails to provide adequate, legitimate means of succeeding?

Accepted Answer

Strain theory posits that deviance arises when there is a discrepancy between societal goals (such as wealth or success) and the legitimate means available to achieve these goals, leading individuals to resort to deviant behavior to fulfill societal expectations.

Question 8

Which of the following is a criticism of rational choice theory?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are criticisms of rational choice theory. It is criticized for not accounting for impulsive acts and actions in high-risk settings (A), for overlooking the variability in decision-making factors based on different situations (B), and for the contradiction in assuming youths make rational choices despite their presumed lack of capacity for truly informed decisions (C).

Question 9

Those who act in a certain way are in a subculture, which is why they act that way is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Those who act in a certain way...

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT an aspect of the Lower Class Gang Delinquency subculture?

Accepted Answer

The aspects listed (Malicious, Negativistic, Nonutilitarian) are indeed characteristics of the Lower Class Gang Delinquency subculture, indicating that none of the options provided are exceptions to this classification.

Question 11

The most prevalent explanations of delinquent behavior are:

Accepted Answer

Sociological explanations focus on the role of social factors, such as poverty, inequality, and discrimination, in causing delinquent behavior.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT true about the Chicago School?

Accepted Answer

The Chicago School posits that criminal activity is more concentrated in certain zones, particularly the inner zones, rather than suggesting that crime migrates to more affluent areas for more worthwhile results. This school of thought emphasizes how different areas of a city affect crime rates, with a focus on the inner zones being more prone to crime.

Question 13

Which of the following focal concerns refers to the idea that lower-class individuals are oriented around short-term hedonistic desires?

Accepted Answer

The focal concern of "excitement" refers to the pursuit of pleasure or thrill-seeking behaviors, which aligns with the concept of being oriented around short-term hedonistic desires. This is a characteristic often attributed to lower-class subcultures in sociological and criminological theories, suggesting that individuals in these groups may prioritize immediate gratification and excitement over long-term goals.

Question 14

What is the term for the state of a community in which the people in that community are unable to exert control over those living there?

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization refers to a breakdown in the structure of a community, characterized by the inability of community members to achieve shared values or to solve jointly experienced problems, including exerting control over those living there.

Question 15

Which of the following notes that learned behavior does not necessary require personal association but that role-playing based on real and fictional presentations in the media may also provide information concerning acceptable behavior?

Accepted Answer

Differential identification theory suggests that individuals can learn behaviors, norms, and values not only through direct interaction with others but also through indirect association, such as through media representations and fictional characters. This contrasts with differential association, which emphasizes learning through direct interaction.

Question 16

If reasoning is circular, it is termed:

Accepted Answer

Circular reasoning is termed tautological because it involves stating the same thing twice in different words, essentially making an argument that goes in a circle without providing any useful evidence.

Question 17

Which of the following proposes that an individual can learn from a variety of sources, both social and nonsocial, and that the differing levels of desirable outcomes received will help shape future behavior?

Accepted Answer

Differential reinforcement proposes that behaviors are shaped by the consequences that follow them, which can include rewards or punishments from a variety of sources, both social and nonsocial. This theory suggests that the varying levels of desirable outcomes (reinforcements) received for different behaviors will influence the likelihood of those behaviors being repeated in the future.

Question 18

In subculture theories, delinquency and criminality are the result of:

Accepted Answer

Subculture theories suggest that delinquency and criminality arise from individuals trying to adhere to the norms and expectations of a subculture, which may be deviant from those of the larger society. This can include frustration from failing to assimilate into new cultural expectations, making all the options correct.

Question 19

Which of the following allows youths to violate the law while maintaining a positive self-image as a conforming member of society?

Accepted Answer

Techniques of Neutralization are rationalizations that allow individuals to justify their deviant behaviors, thereby enabling them to maintain a positive self-image while engaging in actions that violate societal norms.

Question 20

Sykes and Matza identify how many techniques of neutralization?

Accepted Answer

Sykes and Matza identify five techniques of neutralization: denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners, and appeal to higher loyalties.

Quiz 4: Sociological Explanations of Delinquency