Question 1

According to Edwin Lemert, ________ becomes especially important because of the forceful role it plays in causing tagged individuals to internalize the negative labels which have been applied to them. Through such a process, labelled individuals assume the role of the deviant.

Accepted Answer

According to Edwin Lemert, secondary deviance becomes especially important because it refers to the process where individuals internalize the negative labels applied to them and assume the role of the deviant, often as a result of societal reactions to their primary deviance.

Question 2

Life course theorists believe that as one's social capital increases, the chance of criminal activity decreases.

Accepted Answer

According to life course theory, social capital, which refers to the resources, relationships, and networks individuals have access to, can serve as a protective factor against criminal activity. Therefore, as social capital increases, the likelihood of engaging in criminal activities decreases.

Question 3

Concepts such as criminal career, life course, social capital, cohort analysis, and evolutionary ecology are all associated with labelling theory.

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory is a sociological theory that explores how the societal reactions and labels assigned to individuals based on their behavior can have long-term effects on their self-identity and future opportunities. While concepts such as criminal career, life course, and cohort analysis may be used in studies influenced by labelling theory, concepts such as social capital and evolutionary ecology are not typically associated with this theoretical framework.

Question 4

The commitment component of the social bond refers to the amount of time spent with others.

Accepted Answer

The commitment component of the social bond refers to the investment an individual makes in conventional society and the activities that maintain that bond, such as education, career, and family commitments, rather than the amount of time spent with others.

Question 5

According to differential association theory, how does learning criminal behaviour differ from learning other types of behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Differential Association Theory, proposed by Edwin H. Sutherland, suggests that learning criminal behavior does not differ in form from learning other types of behavior. The process involves the same mechanisms, such as imitation, rewards, and punishments, within intimate personal groups.

Question 6

A social bond is the link, created through socialization, between individuals and the society of which they are a part.

Accepted Answer

This is the correct definition of a social bond.

Question 7

A ________ is a group of individuals sharing certain significant social characteristics, such as gender and time and place of birth.

Accepted Answer

A cohort is a group of individuals who share a common characteristic or experience, such as being born during a certain time period or in a certain location. This term is often used in sociological and demographic research to study patterns and trends among different groups. Social capital refers to the resources and connections available to individuals or groups within a community, ecology refers to the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment, stigmatic shaming class and developmental dysfunctional pathway do not relate to the given definition.

Question 8

Which of the following perspectives sees continued crime as a consequence of limited opportunities for acceptable behaviour which follow from the negative responses of society to those defined as offenders?

Accepted Answer

The labelling perspective emphasizes that negative societal responses towards offenders, such as stigmatization and exclusion, limit their opportunities for acceptable behavior and can lead to continued criminal behavior. This perspective suggests that reducing the negative labeling and providing opportunities for reintegration into society can reduce crime.

Question 9

According to containment theory, a positive self-image is an important ________ containment.

Accepted Answer

Containment theory suggests that a positive self-image is an important aspect of inner containment. Inner containment refers to an individual's internal safeguards or controls that prevent them from engaging in delinquent or deviant behavior. A positive self-image can provide an individual with a strong sense of self-worth and self-value, which can increase their commitment to conventional society and reduce their likelihood of engaging in delinquent behavior to gain recognition or validation.

Question 10

According to Travis Hirschi, the fourth component of the social bond, or _________________, an individual will commit criminal activities because, although they know the rules exist, they basically do not care and invest little of their sense of self in moral standards.

Accepted Answer

The fourth component of the social bond is belief, as stated in the question. Travis Hirschi posits that individuals who lack belief in moral standards are more likely to engage in criminal activities because they do not feel invested in abiding by societal norms.

Question 11

Walter C. Reckless, Travis Hirschi, and Michael R. Gottfredson are all theorists associated with the concepts of inner and outer containment as well as social bonds.

Accepted Answer

Walter C. Reckless, Travis Hirschi, and Michael R. Gottfredson are all criminologists known for their work on social control theory, which includes the concepts of inner and outer containment and social bonds.

Question 12

Gresham Sykes and David Matza put forth the notion of techniques of neutralization in 1957.

Accepted Answer

Gresham Sykes and David Matza introduced the concept of techniques of neutralization in their 1957 article "Techniques of Neutralization: A Theory of Delinquency."

Question 13

________ contended that crime, like all human behaviour, is learned.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Sutherland developed the theory of differential association, which posits that individuals learn criminal behavior through interactions with close peers and family members.

Question 14

One type of justification for offending by the offender is that of appealing to higher loyalties, whereby the offender may appeal to their family honour, gang, girlfriend, or neighbourhood and state "I have to protect myself!"

Accepted Answer

This is true. Offenders may use the justification of appealing to higher loyalties as a way to rationalize their offending behavior. They may feel a sense of loyalty towards their family, gang, or community that they believe justifies their actions.

Question 15

The technique of neutralization which involves a young offender claiming that the unlawful acts were "not my fault" is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The technique of neutralization that involves a young offender claiming that the unlawful acts were "not my fault" is known as denial of responsibility.

Question 16

Listing the names of drunk drivers on a public billboard is an example of ________ shaming.

Accepted Answer

Stigmatic shaming involves publicly labeling individuals as deviant or shameful, which can lead to social exclusion and stigmatization. Listing the names of drunk drivers on a public billboard can be seen as stigmatic shaming because it publicly labels and stigmatizes individuals who have committed a certain behavior as deviant and shameful.

Question 17

According to Travis Hirschi, the third component of the social bond, or _________________, means "engrossment in conventional activities" and is similar to reckless's concept of meaningful roles.

Accepted Answer

Travis Hirschi identified four components of the social bond theory: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Involvement means being engaged in conventional activities and is important for preventing delinquent behavior. This is similar to the concept of meaningful roles proposed by Travis Hirschi's colleague, Walter Reckless.

Question 18

Secondary deviance is deviant behaviour that results from official labelling and from association with others who have been so labelled.

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviance theory suggests that people may engage in deviant behavior as a result of being officially labeled as deviant and being stigmatized by society. This cycle of labeling and further deviance can continue and become more entrenched over time.

Question 19

According to Edwin Lemert, ________ is the initial deviant act which results in being caught and labelled as a deviant.

Accepted Answer

Edwin Lemert's concept of primary deviance refers to the initial acts of rule-breaking, which may or may not result in being caught and labelled as deviant. Thus, the correct answer is A - primary deviance.

Question 20

Which one of the following is NOT descriptive of the labelling theory?

Accepted Answer

Labelling theory focuses on how the labels applied to individuals by society (especially by authorities such as law enforcement) can influence individuals' self-identity and behavior. It emphasizes the role of societal reaction and definitions in the creation of deviance, rather than attributing deviance to individuals' traits or to their association with groups. Choice E, which suggests that delinquency is learned through association with groups where delinquent behavior is established, is more descriptive of differential association theory, not labelling theory.

Quiz 9: The Meaning of Crime: Social Process Perspective