Question 1

Which types of theories consider the availability of legitimate opportunities for material success at both the individual and societal level in their explanations for crime?

Accepted Answer

Anomie and strain theories specifically focus on the gap between societal goals (such as material success) and the legitimate means available to achieve these goals. When individuals or groups perceive a lack of legitimate opportunities to achieve widely valued goals, they may resort to crime. This perspective is central to the understanding of crime in anomie and strain theories.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the five structural characteristics that Rodney Stark says summarize the idea of social disorganization?

Accepted Answer

Incivility is not one of the five structural characteristics of social disorganization as summarized by Rodney Stark. The characteristics typically include density, dilapidation, poverty, and others like mixed-use and transience.

Question 3

According to the _____________ model of urban growth, cities in the early 1900s grew through progressive expansion from the central city outwards, in a series of zones associated with different types of land use.

Accepted Answer

The concentric zone model, proposed by sociologist Ernest Burgess in 1925, describes urban growth in terms of circular areas that expand outward from the central business district, with each ring representing a different type of land use. This model was based on the observation of the city of Chicago during the early 20th century.

Question 4

Which sociologist developed the concentric zone model of urban development?

Accepted Answer

Ernest Burgess developed the concentric zone model, which describes urban land use in circular patterns emanating from the city center.

Question 5

The proponents of social disorganization theory are often referred to as the:

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory, which focuses on the relationships between social structures, crime, and delinquency in urban areas, is most closely associated with the Chicago School. This school of thought emerged in the early 20th century, led by sociologists at the University of Chicago who studied the social dynamics within urban environments.

Question 6

Which theory was most extensively advanced by persons affiliated with the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago?

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory was most extensively advanced by researchers affiliated with the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago, particularly in the early to mid-20th century. This theory focuses on how the environment and social conditions in certain neighborhoods can lead to crime and deviance among its residents.

Question 7

Durkheim's theoretical concept of anomie is best described as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Durkheim's theoretical concept of anomie is best...

Question 8

Social structure theories center on the idea that high rates of crime are caused by:

Accepted Answer

Social structure theories focus on the organizational features of the social environment external to individuals, such as socioeconomic status and community organization, as the primary causes of crime. These theories suggest that societal or community-level factors, rather than individual personality traits or peer group influences, are key in understanding why crime occurs more frequently in certain areas.

Question 9

According to Cloward and Ohlin, which type of subculture predominates in areas that lack criminal traditions?

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin argue that in areas lacking criminal traditions, a conflict subculture is more likely to develop. This is because the absence of an established network of adult criminals means that young people do not have the opportunity to learn and engage in organized criminal activities. Instead, they engage in conflict and gang-related activities as a form of adaptation to their inability to achieve societal goals through legitimate means.

Question 10

According to Cloward and Ohlin, which type of subculture exists in neighborhoods that are well organized for crime, where norms all but require criminal involvement?

Accepted Answer

Cloward and Ohlin argue that in neighborhoods where crime is well organized and almost a norm, a criminal subculture exists. This subculture provides young people with opportunities to engage in criminal activities and to learn and advance within this criminal environment.

Question 11

Which of the following was NOT a conclusion drawn by Shaw and McKay?

Accepted Answer

Shaw and McKay's research, foundational to the social disorganization theory, concluded that high rates of delinquency in certain areas were persistent over time, not characterized by high rates for only short periods as suggested in option D. Their work emphasized the stability of crime rates in certain areas despite changes in the population, pointing to the importance of structural factors in those communities.

Question 12

Shaw and McKay's argument is that three structural characteristics are especially disruptive of community social organization. Which of the following is NOT one of these characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Shaw and McKay's theory, related to social disorganization, emphasizes ethnic heterogeneity, residential mobility, and low economic status as disruptive factors to community social organization, not the lack of political clout.

Question 13

What is the term that Merton used to refer to the accepted avenues for achieving cultural goals?

Accepted Answer

Merton used the term "Institutionalized means" to refer to the socially approved ways and methods available within a society to achieve cultural goals, such as wealth or success.

Question 14

Anomie theory assumes that a single dominant value fills all of American society, and there is widespread consensus regarding this value. What is that value?

Accepted Answer

Anomie theory, particularly as developed by sociologist Robert Merton, posits that American society places a strong emphasis on monetary success as the primary goal for all its members, but does not equally distribute the means to achieve this success, leading to strain and potentially deviant behavior to achieve these ends.

Question 15

Merton based his societal-level theory on Durkheim's concept of:

Accepted Answer

Merton's societal-level theory, particularly his theory of deviance, is based on Durkheim's concept of anomie, which describes a state of normlessness or a breakdown in the social fabric, leading to deviant behavior.

Question 16

The origins of anomie and strain theories can be traced to the work of:

Accepted Answer

Robert Merton is credited with developing the strain theory, which is a key component of anomie theory.

Question 17

In his contemporary version of social disorganization theory, Robert Sampson uses which term to refer to the willingness of community residents to be involved with each other and to exercise informal control?

Accepted Answer

Robert Sampson's contemporary version of social disorganization theory uses the term "collective efficacy" to describe the willingness of community residents to be involved with each other and to exercise informal social control. This concept emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and mutual trust in achieving community-level control over crime and delinquency.

Question 18

Who played a leading role in revitalizing social disorganization theory in the 1980s by showing its relevance for understanding and responding to high rates of crime in inner-city neighborhoods?

Accepted Answer

Robert Sampson played a key role in revitalizing social disorganization theory during the 1980s by demonstrating its relevance to understanding and addressing the high rates of crime in inner-city neighborhoods. His work, often in collaboration with others, focused on how structural factors within neighborhoods, such as economic status, cohesion, and trust among residents, influence crime rates.

Question 19

Social disorganization theory was vitally important in directing criminological attention toward:

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory focuses on how the conditions within urban environments affect crime rates, emphasizing the importance of community structures and societal factors in influencing criminal behavior. It suggests that high crime rates are linked to the breakdown of social institutions such as family, school, and employment in certain neighborhoods.

Question 20

How did Shaw and McKay incorporate the element of culture into social disorganization theory?

Accepted Answer

Shaw and McKay incorporated the element of culture into social disorganization theory by recognizing the loss of a common culture in disorganized communities, the development of delinquent subcultures within these communities, and the transmission of delinquent culture from older offenders to younger delinquents.

Quiz 11: Social Structure Theories: Community, Strain, and Subcultures