Question 1

Which of the following led to the breakdown of social controls, the rise of criminal traditions, and barriers to the American dream of success?
A) The Civil War
B) The American Revolution
C) The Depression
D) The Civil Rights Movement

Accepted Answer

The Depression led to widespread economic hardship, which in turn caused a breakdown in social controls, the rise of criminal traditions as people sought alternative means of survival, and barriers to achieving the American dream due to widespread unemployment and poverty.

Question 2

The primary theme of ______ concentrates on learning, socialization, and subcultural transmission of criminal values.
A) anomie
B) social process
C) social control
D) life course

Accepted Answer

The primary theme of social process theories is on learning, socialization, and the subcultural transmission of criminal values. These theories suggest that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others and through exposure to certain values and attitudes that support criminal activity.

Question 3

Social trends in modern urban-industrial societies result in changing norms, confusion, and lessened social control over the individual. This condition creates ______.
A) delinquent sub-cultures
B) drift
C) anomie
D) criminal sub-cultures

Accepted Answer

The term "anomie" describes a state of normlessness or confusion in society, where social norms are unclear or are breaking down, leading to lessened social control over individuals. This concept is closely associated with the work of sociologist Émile Durkheim, who argued that anomie occurs in modern urban-industrial societies due to rapid social change and the breakdown of traditional norms and values.

Question 4

Émile Durkheim's work on suicide identified several types. Which of the following refers to the self-centered suicide?
A) altruistic
B) egoistic
C) anomic
D) normal

Accepted Answer

Egoistic suicide is associated with a person being overly self-centered and not sufficiently integrated into society, according to Émile Durkheim's typology.

Question 5

Which policy would someone who supports anomie theory as an explanation for crime suggest?
A) programs that strengthen the family
B) policies to create greater opportunities
C) neighborhood clean-up
D) eradication of slums

Accepted Answer

Anomie theory suggests that crime results from the breakdown of social norms and a lack of opportunities to achieve societal goals, so creating greater opportunities aligns with addressing these issues.

Question 6

Merton's adaptation of anomie became known as ______.
A) personality adaptation theory
B) the general theory of crime
C) differential association theory
D) strain theory

Accepted Answer

Merton's adaptation of anomie is known as strain theory, which suggests that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (like wealth or success), but not everyone has the means to achieve these goals, leading to strain and potentially deviant behavior.

Question 7

A particular student wants to do well in school but never seems to be able to earn higher than a
A) conformity
B) innovation
C) rebellion
D) retreatism

Accepted Answer

Innovation refers to using unconventional means to achieve culturally approved goals, such as academic success, when traditional methods are not working.

Question 8

Which of the modes of personality accepts the goal of success in society and the societally approved means of achieving this status?
A) conformist
B) innovator
C) retreatist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

Conformists accept both the societal goals and the approved means of achieving them, aligning with the expectations and norms of society to achieve success.

Question 9

Which of the following modes of personality accepts the goal of success but rejects or sees illegitimate alternatives to the means of achieving these aims?
A) conformist
B) innovator
C) retreatist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

Innovators accept the societal goals but reject the traditional means of achieving them, often turning to unconventional or illegal methods to reach their objectives. This contrasts with conformists who accept both the goals and the means, retreatists who reject both, and rebels who reject the goals and means but seek to replace them with their own.

Question 10

Which of the following modes of personality is illustrated by the mindless bureaucrat who becomes caught up in the riles and means to an end that he or she forgets or fails to place proper significance on the goal?
A) conformist
B) innovator
C) ritualist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

The ritualist mode of personality is characterized by a strict adherence to rules and procedures to the extent that the original goals or purposes are lost or devalued. This mode is exemplified by individuals who become so involved in the process or the means that they lose sight of the end goals or outcomes, much like the mindless bureaucrat described.

Question 11

Which of the following modes of personality represents a rejection of both societally approved means and ends?
A) retreatist
B) innovator
C) ritualist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

Retreatist mode of personality represents a rejection of both societally approved means and ends, where individuals withdraw from both the goals and the means of society.

Question 12

Which of the following modes of personality rejects both means and goals, and seeks to substitute alterative ones that would represent new societal goals as well as new methods of achieving them?
A) retreatist
B) innovator
C) ritualist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

Rebels reject both the societal goals and the means of achieving them, and they seek to replace them with new goals and means, aiming to transform the social system.

Question 13

Which of the following theorists is credited with general strain theory, in which it was acknowledged that strain can result from a variety of negative relationships or experiences?
A) Émile Durkheim
B) Albert Cohen
C) Robert Agnew
D) Robert Merton

Accepted Answer

Robert Agnew is credited with developing the general strain theory, which expands upon the concept of strain in criminology to include a broader range of sources of strain, not just economic or ambition-related, but also negative relationships and experiences.

Question 14

The "institutional anomie theory" attributes crime to the ______.
A) American Dream
B) normlessness that results from social change
C) rejection of middle-class values
D) weakening of social bonds

Accepted Answer

Institutional anomie theory attributes crime to the cultural pressure to achieve the American Dream, which emphasizes success through economic means, often undermining social institutions that regulate behavior.

Question 15

According to Cohen's ______ theory, delinquency is a lower-class reaction to middle-class values.
A) lower-class reaction
B) strain
C) anomie
D) delinquent subculture

Accepted Answer

Cohen's lower-class reaction theory suggests that delinquency is a response to the frustration experienced by lower-class youth who are unable to achieve middle-class values.

Question 16

Generally speaking, differential opportunity theories focus on crime as the result of ______.
A) social disorganization
B) natural processes of maturation
C) lack of legitimate opportunities
D) weak social controls

Accepted Answer

Differential opportunity theories suggest that crime occurs when individuals have limited access to legitimate means to achieve their goals, thus turning to illegitimate or criminal opportunities.

Question 17

Which of the following pairs of criminologists is most strongly associated with helping us understand that forms of adaptation depend upon the availability of illegitimate opportunities to commit crime?
A) Shaw and McKay
B) Sampson and Laub
C) Cloward and Ohlin
D) Gottfredson and Hirschi

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin are most strongly associated with the theory that forms of adaptation depend upon the availability of illegitimate opportunities to commit crime, emphasizing the role of differential access to illegitimate means in the process of engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 18

According to Cloward and Ohlin, which type of criminal subculture does "double-failures" enter?
A) rebels
B) criminal
C) retreatist
D) conflict

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin argue that "double-failures" are those who fail to succeed in both legitimate societal roles and in the roles available within criminal subcultures. They enter the retreatist subculture, which is characterized by withdrawal and often involves drug use and other escapist behaviors.

Question 19

Which of the following delinquent subcultures occurs in stable neighborhoods in which a hierarchy of available criminal opportunities exists?
A) criminal
B) conflict
C) retreatist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

The criminal subculture typically emerges in stable neighborhoods where there is a hierarchy of criminal opportunities. In these areas, young individuals have the chance to climb the criminal ladder, learning from and eventually replacing older criminals. This subculture is characterized by organized criminal activities and the presence of adult criminal role models.

Question 20

Disorganized areas are characterized by a ______ subculture.
A) criminal
B) conflict
C) retreatist
D) rebel

Accepted Answer

Disorganized areas are often associated with a conflict subculture, where there is a lack of stable social structures and norms, leading to higher levels of violence and disorder.

Quiz 7: Sociological Mainstream Theories

Which of the following led to the breakdown of social controls, the rise of criminal traditions, and barriers to the American dream of success?

The primary theme of ______ concentrates on learning, socialization, and subcultural transmission of criminal values.

Social trends in modern urban-industrial societies result in changing norms, confusion, and lessened social control over the individual. This condition creates ______.

Émile Durkheim's work on suicide identified several types. Which of the following refers to the self-centered suicide?

Which policy would someone who supports anomie theory as an explanation for crime suggest?

Merton's adaptation of anomie became known as ______.

A particular student wants to do well in school but never seems to be able to earn higher than a

Which of the modes of personality accepts the goal of success in society and the societally approved means of achieving this status?

Which of the following modes of personality accepts the goal of success but rejects or sees illegitimate alternatives to the means of achieving these aims?

Which of the following modes of personality is illustrated by the mindless bureaucrat who becomes caught up in the riles and means to an end that he or she forgets or fails to place proper significance on the goal?

Which of the following modes of personality represents a rejection of both societally approved means and ends?

Which of the following modes of personality rejects both means and goals, and seeks to substitute alterative ones that would represent new societal goals as well as new methods of achieving them?

Which of the following theorists is credited with general strain theory, in which it was acknowledged that strain can result from a variety of negative relationships or experiences?

The "institutional anomie theory" attributes crime to the ______.

According to Cohen's ______ theory, delinquency is a lower-class reaction to middle-class values.

Generally speaking, differential opportunity theories focus on crime as the result of ______.

Which of the following pairs of criminologists is most strongly associated with helping us understand that forms of adaptation depend upon the availability of illegitimate opportunities to commit crime?

According to Cloward and Ohlin, which type of criminal subculture does "double-failures" enter?

Which of the following delinquent subcultures occurs in stable neighborhoods in which a hierarchy of available criminal opportunities exists?

Disorganized areas are characterized by a ______ subculture.