Question 1

Howard Becker contends that deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of others applying rules and sanctions.

Accepted Answer

Howard Becker's labeling theory suggests that deviance is a social construct and is determined by how society reacts to certain behaviors, rather than being inherent in the actions themselves. Therefore, deviance is a consequence of others applying rules and sanctions, rather than a quality of the act committed.

Question 2

Essentially, labelling theory denies the concept of mala in se.

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory argues that actions are not inherently deviant or criminal, but rather are labelled as such by society. Therefore, the concept of something being "wrong in itself" (mala in se) is denied by labelling theorists.

Question 3

According to the social process perspective, an offender who has acquired criminality, established deviant self-concepts, and participates in criminal behaviour, will likely continue to commit crimes.

Accepted Answer

The social process perspective suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others, and individuals who have established deviant self-concepts and participate in criminal behavior are more likely to continue engaging in criminal activity.

Question 4

According to Edwin Lemert, offenders commit acts of primary and secondary deviance.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Lemert's theory of social and societal reaction to deviance posits that individuals commit primary deviance (isolated, sporadic deviant acts) and secondary deviance (repeated, habitual deviant behavior due to societal reaction to initial deviant act).

Question 5

Tagging is the process whereby an individual is negatively defined by agencies of justice.

Accepted Answer

Tagging refers to the process of labeling or categorizing an individual as a criminal, deviant, or troublemaker by law enforcement and justice agencies. This negative labeling affects the individual's interactions with society and can lead to further criminal behavior.

Question 6

Labelling theorists would agree that labelling someone as a criminal is more detrimental to someone who has been falsely accused of a crime than someone who actually committed an offence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Labelling theorists would agree that labelling someone...

Question 7

According to Edwin Sutherland, criminal behaviour is learned through a process of differential association with others who communicate criminal values and who advocate the commission of crimes.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland's theory of differential association suggests that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others who exhibit criminal values and beliefs, and this learning occurs through socialization and communication.

Question 8

Social process theories are most closely associated with a biological predisposition appraoch to understanding criminal behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Social process theories focus on how social factors such as family, peers, and the community influence the development of criminal behavior. They do not rely on a biological predisposition approach but instead consider how environmental factors shape behavior.

Question 9

Containment means those aspects of the social bond that act as a stabilizing force to prevent individuals from committing crimes and that keep them from engaging in deviance.

Accepted Answer

Containment theory emphasizes the importance of external social factors in preventing crimes and deviant behavior. These factors include good parenting, positive social relationships, strong community involvement, and clear boundaries and expectations for behavior. By providing a stable and supportive environment, these factors help to "contain" individuals and prevent them from engaging in criminal or deviant behavior. Thus, containment is a key aspect of social control that helps to keep individuals on the right path.

Question 10

According to David Matza, by employing techniques of neutralization, delinquents need not be fully alienated from the larger society because these techniques provide an effective way of overcoming feelings of guilt so they can commit crimes.

Accepted Answer

David Matza's theory of neutralization posits that delinquents can justify their deviant behavior by neutralizing feelings of guilt through techniques such as denial of responsibility, denial of injury, and condemnation of condemners. This allows them to still feel connected to society while engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 11

Stigmatic shaming is used "to condemn the crime, not the criminal."

Accepted Answer

Stigmatic shaming is often used to condemn the individual and their character, rather than just the behavior or action they engaged in.

Question 12

Limited opportunities for acceptable behaviour, which follow from the negative responses of society to those defined as offenders, is offered as an explanation for continued crime by the labelling perspective.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately reflects the perspective of the labelling theory, which argues that the social response to those labeled as criminals can create further barriers to their desistance from criminal behavior.

Question 13

The efforts made by an interest group to have its sense of propriety embodied in law is known as moral enterprise.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Moral enterprise refers to the efforts made by an interest group to have its sense of propriety or moral values embodied in law or public policy.

Question 14

The neutralization technique known as denying the victim states that the victim deserved the victimization, such as stating "I only beat up drunks."

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the neutralization technique known as denying the victim. It involves blaming the victim for their own victimization and implying that the victim deserved it.

Question 15

According to Frank Tannenbaum, crime is the result of opposing definitions of the situation, between the delinquent and the community at large.

Accepted Answer

According to Frank Tannenbaum, crime is the result of opposing definitions of the situation, between the delinquent and the community at large.

Question 16

According to the labelling theory, labelling by society and handling by the justice system tend to reduce crime and delinquency.

Accepted Answer

According to the labelling theory, labelling and handling by the justice system can actually increase the likelihood of future criminal and delinquent behavior as individuals may internalize the negative labels and believe they cannot escape them. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where individuals continue to engage in deviant behavior because they believe that is all society expects from them.

Question 17

When an offender justifies the harm done to a victim by indicating the victim deserved the victimization, the offender is using the neutralization technique referred to as "denial of injury."

Accepted Answer

The neutralization technique referred to as "denial of injury" involves the offender denying that their actions caused any harm or damage to the victim, rather than justifying the harm done by indicating the victim deserved it.

Question 18

According to Edwin Sutherland, offenders are born with the attitudes required to justify criminal behaviour; however, they must learn the necessary techniques to commit crimes.

Accepted Answer

According to Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory, offenders learn both the attitudes that justify criminal behavior and the techniques necessary to commit crimes through their interactions with others, particularly within their social environment.

Question 19

Marvin Wolfgang's cohort study of boys in Philadelphia found that a relatively small number of violent offenders were responsible for most of the crimes committed by the cohort.

Accepted Answer

Wolfgang's study, published in 1972, found that a small percentage of the cohort studied (7%) was responsible for over half of the violent offenses committed by the group.

Question 20

Reintegrative shaming is a form of shaming, imposed as a sanction by the criminal justice system, that is thought to strengthen the moral bond between the offender and the community.

Accepted Answer

Reintegrative shaming is a real concept in criminology and is typically imposed in the hopes of rehabilitating the offender and helping them reintegrate into society. It is thought to be more effective than stigmatizing or exclusionary forms of shaming, which can actually reduce the offender's willingness to follow societal norms. Reintegrative shaming involves acknowledging the offender's actions, but also providing them with opportunities to make amends and contribute positively to the community.

Quiz 9: The Meaning of Crime: Social Process Perspective

Howard Becker contends that deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of others applying rules and sanctions.

Essentially, labelling theory denies the concept of mala in se.

According to the social process perspective, an offender who has acquired criminality, established deviant self-concepts, and participates in criminal behaviour, will likely continue to commit crimes.

According to Edwin Lemert, offenders commit acts of primary and secondary deviance.

Tagging is the process whereby an individual is negatively defined by agencies of justice.

Labelling theorists would agree that labelling someone as a criminal is more detrimental to someone who has been falsely accused of a crime than someone who actually committed an offence.

According to Edwin Sutherland, criminal behaviour is learned through a process of differential association with others who communicate criminal values and who advocate the commission of crimes.

Social process theories are most closely associated with a biological predisposition appraoch to understanding criminal behaviour.

Containment means those aspects of the social bond that act as a stabilizing force to prevent individuals from committing crimes and that keep them from engaging in deviance.

According to David Matza, by employing techniques of neutralization, delinquents need not be fully alienated from the larger society because these techniques provide an effective way of overcoming feelings of guilt so they can commit crimes.

Stigmatic shaming is used "to condemn the crime, not the criminal."

Limited opportunities for acceptable behaviour, which follow from the negative responses of society to those defined as offenders, is offered as an explanation for continued crime by the labelling perspective.

The efforts made by an interest group to have its sense of propriety embodied in law is known as moral enterprise.

The neutralization technique known as denying the victim states that the victim deserved the victimization, such as stating "I only beat up drunks."

According to Frank Tannenbaum, crime is the result of opposing definitions of the situation, between the delinquent and the community at large.

According to the labelling theory, labelling by society and handling by the justice system tend to reduce crime and delinquency.

When an offender justifies the harm done to a victim by indicating the victim deserved the victimization, the offender is using the neutralization technique referred to as "denial of injury."

According to Edwin Sutherland, offenders are born with the attitudes required to justify criminal behaviour; however, they must learn the necessary techniques to commit crimes.

Marvin Wolfgang's cohort study of boys in Philadelphia found that a relatively small number of violent offenders were responsible for most of the crimes committed by the cohort.

Reintegrative shaming is a form of shaming, imposed as a sanction by the criminal justice system, that is thought to strengthen the moral bond between the offender and the community.