Question 1

Social control theory, as espoused by Travis Hirschi, has certain elements of the bond. Which of the following is NOT an element of the bond?

Accepted Answer

Containment is not an element of the bond in social control theory. The four elements of the bond are commitment, involvement, belief, and attachment. Containment is a concept separate from the bond and refers to external factors that limit an individual's opportunity to engage in deviant behavior.

Question 2

Time consuming activity like academics, sports and leisure best describe the social bond that Hirschi called: ______________.

Accepted Answer

Involvement.

Question 3

Social control theory has been criticized for being incompatible with cross-sectional data.

Accepted Answer

Social control theory can be analyzed using cross-sectional data, which involves collecting information from a sample of people at one point in time. However, some scholars argue that longitudinal data, which involves collecting information from the same people at different points in time, is a more appropriate way to test this theory. Longitudinal studies allow researchers to assess how changes in social control variables over time are related to changes in levels of delinquency or other types of deviance. Therefore, while social control theory may face some limitations when using cross-sectional data, it is not inherently incompatible with it.

Question 4

Hirschi blamed delinquency on:

Accepted Answer

Hirschi's social control theory proposes that delinquency occurs when an individual's bonds to society are broken or weakened. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 5

Which of the following would not be considered a typical variable for analysis for social control theory?

Accepted Answer

Economic barriers are not typically considered variables for analysis in social control theory, which instead focuses on social bonds and attachments such as family structures, peer groups, and educational levels.

Question 6

Social control theories generally assume that:

Accepted Answer

Social control theories focus on why people conform to societal norms and laws rather than why they deviate. They posit that conformity is not automatic and requires explanation, emphasizing the mechanisms and processes that maintain social order.

Question 7

According to the textbook, another way to look at social control theory is to call it:

Accepted Answer

The textbook explains that social control theory can also be referred to as socialization theory, as it focuses on how individuals are socialized to conform to societal norms and values through social bonds and attachments.

Question 8

The most popular version of social control in the 1970s and 1980s was the one presented by:

Accepted Answer

Travis Hirschi's social control theory, which emphasizes the importance of social bonds and attachment to conventional society in preventing delinquent behavior, was the most popular version of social control during the 1970s and 1980s. Sykes and Matza's neutralization theory, Walter Reckless's containment theory, and Emile Durkheim's anomie theory were also influential in the field of criminology, but Hirschi's work had the most widespread impact during this time period.

Question 9

Walter Reckless argued that an individual's _____________ containment is the most important type for resisting delinquency.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Walter Reckless argued that an individual's _____________...

Question 10

According to the text, which is not one of three trends that led to the increase in popularity of social control theories?

Accepted Answer

The decrease in funds for federal housing and welfare assistance for the poor is not related to the trends that increased the popularity of social control theories. The other options are directly related to academic and methodological trends in criminology.

Question 11

Social control theories appear to have trouble explaining why many people seem to age out of crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Social control theories appear to have trouble...

Question 12

Emile Durkheim stressed the functional nature of deviance in his reference to a society of ___________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Emile Durkheim stressed the functional nature of...

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the techniques of neutralization?

Accepted Answer

Techniques of neutralization are rationalizations used by individuals to justify behavior that goes against social norms or values. The options "Denial of the victim," "Condemn the condemners," and "Appeal to a higher loyalty" are all recognized techniques of neutralization. "Rejection of the implication" is not a recognized technique within this theory.

Question 14

According to Durkheim, social controls are necessary for order to exist and for people to understand the boundaries of accepted behavior.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that social controls such as laws, norms, and values are necessary to regulate behavior and prevent social chaos. Without them, individuals would not know what is expected of them and there would be no order in society.

Question 15

Matza called the ties that exist between the individual and the dominant values of society:

Accepted Answer

Matza called the ties that exist between the individual and the dominant values of society as "bonds to the moral order."

Question 16

Social control theories developed with the data directly gathered from the then-new research method called __________ surveys.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Social control theories developed with the data...

Question 17

Social control research relies predominantly on self-report data.

Accepted Answer

Social control research often involves surveying individuals and asking them to self-report their attitudes, behaviors, and experiences related to social control. This approach allows researchers to gather large amounts of data quickly and efficiently, but it is also subject to limitations such as social desirability bias and inaccurate memories. Researchers may also use observational and experimental approaches to supplement self-report data.

Question 18

Because humans seek preservation and gratification, theorists call their behavior __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because humans seek preservation and gratification, theorists...

Question 19

Durkheim purported that behavior is controlled by:

Accepted Answer

Durkheim believed that behavior is controlled by social reaction to someone else's behavior. He argued that individuals are guided by social norms and values, which are reinforced by the reactions of others in society. While personality dimensions and the law can also influence behavior, Durkheim emphasized the importance of social factors in shaping individual actions.

Question 20

While Reckless's containment theory focuses on both internal and external containment, he perceived the external to be the more important of the two.

Accepted Answer

Reckless's containment theory posits that both internal and external containments are crucial for preventing delinquency, but he emphasized internal containments, such as self-control and a strong sense of responsibility, as more important in resisting the pressures towards delinquency.

Quiz 11: Social Control Theory