Question 1

In Germany, Tönnies compared close-knit rural communities or _____ to the impersonal mass society of urban communities or _____.

Accepted Answer

Tönnies described close-knit rural communities as "Gemeinschaft" (community) and contrasted them with the impersonal urban societies he called "Gesellschaft" (society).

Question 2

Burgess theorized that cities develop in _____, growing toward outer areas.

Accepted Answer

Burgess's theory, known as the concentric zone model, posits that cities expand outward in concentric circles from a central point.

Question 3

Shaw and McKay hypothesized that delinquency rates would be higher in unstable zones and lower in stable zones, stating that:

Accepted Answer

Shaw and McKay's theory, known as Social Disorganization Theory, posits that high delinquency rates are linked to the breakdown of traditional social controls and the development of different value systems in unstable zones. This breakdown is attributed to urban growth, increased mobility, and the characteristics of city life, such as anonymity and economic pressures, which facilitate unconventional methods for status improvement. All the options provided (A, B, C) are aspects of this theory, making D the correct choice.

Question 4

Sampson and Wilson introduced _____ into Shaw and McKay's thesis.

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Wilson introduced the concept of race into Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory, which originally focused on factors like poverty, residential mobility, and family disruption without explicitly addressing race.

Question 5

This is a group's shared belief of the extent to which it can successfully complete a task.

Accepted Answer

Collective efficacy refers to a group's shared belief in its conjoint capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required to produce given levels of attainments. It is about how confident the group is in its ability to achieve its goals.

Question 6

This is a condition in which the majority of a given society's citizens respect the law and are committed to social order.

Accepted Answer

Social cohesion refers to the willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other in order to survive and prosper. This concept includes the idea that members of the society respect the law and are committed to maintaining social order, which is essential for a cohesive and smoothly functioning community.

Question 7

According to _____ theory, crime is learned from others, especially family members and delinquent peers.

Accepted Answer

Differential association theory posits that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others, particularly family and peers.

Question 8

Which is not one of Sutherland's nine propositions?

Accepted Answer

Sutherland's Differential Association Theory, which outlines the nine propositions, does not include the explanation of criminal behavior by general needs and values. Instead, it focuses on the learning process of criminal behavior through social interactions.

Question 9

Sutherland argues that the difference between lawbreaking and law-abiding behavior is affected by four factors. Which is not one of these?

Accepted Answer

Sutherland's differential association theory suggests that lawbreaking behavior is influenced by factors such as frequency, duration, and intensity of interactions with lawbreakers, but does not mention precedence as a factor.

Question 10

According to this theory, people learn behaviors by watching other people, and mimicking interactions that are rewarded and avoiding those that are punished.

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory posits that people learn new behaviors through observational learning, by watching others and then imitating behaviors that are rewarded, while avoiding behaviors that are punished.

Question 11

This is a form of conditioning based on learning from the positive or negative consequences of an action.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. It is based on the consequences of an action, which can be positive (reinforcement) or negative (punishment), influencing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

Question 12

This field of psychology focuses on the study of behavior that is observed.

Accepted Answer

Behaviorism is the field of psychology that focuses on studying behaviors that can be observed and measured, rather than internal mental states.

Question 13

This is the rewarding of one behavior and not another or the rewarding of one behavior and punishment of another.

Accepted Answer

Differential reinforcement involves reinforcing a specific behavior while not reinforcing, or even punishing, another behavior. This technique is used to increase the frequency of desirable behaviors and decrease the frequency of undesirable ones.

Question 14

This is the avoidance of painful or stressful conditions or events.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. It is a way of avoiding painful or stressful conditions or events.

Question 15

What is one reason that social learning theory has remained a popular explanation for crime, delinquency, and deviant behavior?

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory has remained popular because it has been supported by empirical evidence, showing its effectiveness in explaining and predicting crime, delinquency, and deviant behavior.

Question 16

According to Akers, _____ are the value judgments that juvenile delinquents apply to their antisocial behavior.

Accepted Answer

According to Ronald Akers' social learning theory, "definitions" are the attitudes or meanings that individuals attach to a given behavior, including value judgments about right and wrong. In the context of juvenile delinquency, definitions refer to the justifications or rationalizations that delinquents use to label their antisocial behavior as acceptable.

Question 17

Sykes and Matza developed this theory to explain how youths who don't approve of delinquency are able to justify their deviant conduct.

Accepted Answer

Sykes and Matza's theory of "techniques of neutralization" explains how individuals, particularly youths, rationalize or justify their deviant behaviors, allowing them to engage in such behaviors without abandoning their conventional values. This theory outlines specific rationalizations or "techniques" that people use to neutralize moral objections to deviance, thereby enabling them to participate in delinquent acts without self-condemnation.

Question 18

According to Sykes and Matza, individuals employ this to mitigate their unlawful behaviors in two ways: by claiming the offense was an accident and by asserting that his or her actions were caused by an outside force.

Accepted Answer

Denial of responsibility is a technique of neutralization where individuals argue that their actions were the result of forces beyond their control (e.g., accidents, external pressures), thereby mitigating their personal accountability for the unlawful behavior.

Question 19

This is personal anxiety or isolation produced by rapidly shifting moral values.

Accepted Answer

Anomie is a term used in sociology to describe the personal state of isolation and anxiety resulting from a lack of social norms, moral guidance, or the breakdown of social bonds. It is often associated with rapid changes in society that leave individuals feeling disconnected and without guidance.

Question 20

Some juvenile delinquents attempt to excuse their actions by claiming that the injured party doesn't deserve true victim status. What is this called?

Accepted Answer

This is called "denial of victim," where the offender argues that the victim deserved whatever action was taken against them, thus attempting to justify their behavior by undermining the victim's legitimacy.

Quiz 5: Sociological Theories of Delinquency

In Germany, Tönnies compared close-knit rural communities or _ to the impersonal mass society of urban communities or _.