Question 1

If social bonding theory is valid, which of the following youths would be most prone to commit delinquent acts?

Accepted Answer

Social bonding theory suggests that individuals with weaker bonds to conventional society (such as school, family, and belief in societal norms) are more likely to engage in delinquency. An adolescent male who drops out of school likely has weaker social bonds, making him more prone to delinquent acts.

Question 2

According to Sykes and Matza, techniques of neutralization help us understand an individual's

Accepted Answer

Techniques of neutralization, as proposed by Sykes and Matza, explain how individuals can drift into delinquency by justifying or rationalizing their deviant behavior without fully adopting delinquent values.

Question 3

In contrast to other theories, what question do control theories seek to answer?

Accepted Answer

Control theories focus on understanding why people conform to societal norms and refrain from committing crimes, rather than why they engage in criminal behavior.

Question 4

"Even though I wanted to, I didn't take drugs because I knew that my parents 'would kill me' and that I would disappoint them. So, even though I was out with my friends, I told my friends that I just wasn't interested in getting high." Which of Travis Hirschi's social bonds best explains this statement?

Accepted Answer

The statement reflects the bond of "Attachment," as it highlights the individual's concern about disappointing their parents and the influence of their relationship with them on their decision-making.

Question 5

Which technique of neutralization would apply to this statement: "It's okay to 'rip off' (copy) computer software because Microsoft is so rich that it will never miss the money if I don't pay for their software"?

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that copying software doesn't cause harm because the company is wealthy, which aligns with the denial of injury technique.

Question 6

Why did Walter Reckless believe that there were "good boys in bad neighborhoods?"

Accepted Answer

Walter Reckless believed that "good boys in bad neighborhoods" had either inner containment, such as a good self-concept, or outer containment, such as close supervision by their parents, which helped them resist engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory is true?

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory posits that low self-control, developed in early childhood, is a stable trait that explains the continuity of conduct problems from childhood to adult crime.

Question 8

"Mary did not steal the money because she was a straight-A student and has a bright future ahead of herself. If she broke the law, she might lose everything she had worked for." Which theory would best describe this statement?

Accepted Answer

Social bond theory suggests that individuals who have strong ties to society, such as academic success and future aspirations, are less likely to commit crimes because they have more to lose.

Question 9

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi,

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory of Crime suggests that low self-control, which is established in childhood, leads to a variety of risky behaviors, including crime, drug use, and accidents.

Question 10

If an individual justifies his or her delinquent actions by saying he or she acted because of circumstances beyond control, what technique of neutralization has the individual used?

Accepted Answer

The technique of neutralization used is "Denial of responsibility," where the individual claims that their actions were due to factors beyond their control, thus not holding themselves accountable.

Question 11

If an individual justifies his or her delinquent actions by saying he or she acted on the demands of peer groups, what technique of neutralization has the individual used?

Accepted Answer

The individual is using the "appeal to higher loyalties" technique, which involves justifying actions by claiming they were done to meet the expectations or demands of a group, such as peers.

Question 12

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop" is an idea most consistent with which of Hirschi's elements of the social bond?

Accepted Answer

Involvement refers to participation in conventional activities, which keeps individuals busy and less likely to engage in deviant behavior, aligning with the idea that idle hands lead to trouble.

Question 13

Gottfredson and Hirschi's key theoretical concept is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's key theoretical concept is self-control, which refers to an individual's ability to control their impulses and resist temptation.

Question 14

According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory of Crime suggests that the opportunity for crime is ubiquitous, meaning it is present everywhere, but not everyone will commit crimes due to varying levels of self-control.

Question 15

The idea that different social bonds affect people at different stages of life is most consistent with which theorist(s)?

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Laub's theory of age-graded social control emphasizes how social bonds change over the life course, affecting behavior at different stages.

Question 16

Which perspective argues that criminal propensities are established early in childhood?

Accepted Answer

Self-control theory posits that criminal propensities are established early in childhood due to inadequate parenting and remain stable over the life course.

Question 17

Which of the following is true about control theories?

Accepted Answer

Control theories suggest that it is human nature for people to break the law, and they focus on why people conform rather than why they deviate.

Question 18

Which of the following is true about the theory of techniques of neutralization?

Accepted Answer

The theory of techniques of neutralization suggests that delinquent youths still hold prosocial values but use justifications to rationalize their deviant behavior as acceptable under certain conditions.

Question 19

Which of the following is a view espoused in A General Theory of Crime?

Accepted Answer

A General Theory of Crime, by Gottfredson and Hirschi, argues that crime results from low self-control, and the relationships between social bonds and crime are considered spurious.

Question 20

According to A General Theory of Crime, a criminal predisposition is

Accepted Answer

A General Theory of Crime, proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi, suggests that criminal predisposition is primarily a result of ineffective parenting, which leads to low self-control.

Quiz 5: Varieties of Control Theory