Question 1

Sutherland proposed a theory of:

Accepted Answer

Sutherland is best known for proposing the theory of white-collar crime, which focuses on crimes committed by individuals in higher social positions during the course of their occupation.

Question 2

Using Sutherland's theory of differential association, explain why an individual might engage in and continue with criminal behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Responses should include:
-Criminal behaviour is learned.
-Criminal behaviour is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
-The principal part of the learning of criminal behaviour occurs within intimate personal groups.
-When criminal behaviour is earned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated, sometimes very simple; (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalisations, and attitudes.

Question 3

Explain Matza's theory of juvenile 'drift'.

Accepted Answer

Student's might include the following in their response:
-Matza identified that most juveniles engage in acts of deviancy; but they adhere to a delinquent subculture
-Juveniles drift along a continuum; sometimes they engaged in behaviours that fit within social norms; at other times they engaged in delinquent behaviour
-Most young people move toward and remain within the conventional expectations of their community
-For a drift to occur, one must learn how to neutralise society's normative hold; one must interact with delinquents for this learning to take place

Question 4

Draw on elements from strain, control and social learning theories to explain juvenile delinquency.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Draw on elements from strain, control and...

Question 5

Which of the following interactionist perspective is not linked to juvenile justice practice of criminal justice diversion?

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory is not directly linked to juvenile justice practices of criminal justice diversion. It focuses on the idea that individuals make decisions based on a rational calculation of the costs and benefits, which is different from the interactionist perspectives that emphasize the social processes and interactions that contribute to juvenile delinquency and its diversion in the criminal justice system. Neutralization theory, labelling theory, and differential association all examine how social interactions and perceptions influence behavior and the application of justice, making them more directly relevant to diversion practices.

Question 6

Provide an outline of the underlying premises to symbolic interactionism and briefly discuss how they influence our understanding and response to the world around us.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide an outline of the underlying premises...

Question 7

List and discuss the two forms of behaviour from a labelling theorist perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and discuss the two forms of...

Question 8

What is meant by 'techniques of neutralisation' as proposed by Sykes and Matza (1957).How has it influenced practice?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by 'techniques of neutralisation'...

Question 9

Discuss the impact of labelling on juvenile offending and offer strategies that can be used to minimise this.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the impact of labelling on juvenile...

Quiz 13: Interactionist Explanations