Complete Test Bank Ch.8 Social Crime Theories Strain 3e

Test Bank

Chapter 8: Social Structure Theories of Crime I: Early Development and Strain Models of Crime

Multiple Choice

1. All of the following are considered important European researchers from which social structure theories were developed EXCEPT ______.

a. Andre-Michel Guerry

b. Thomas Hobbes

c. Adolphe Quetelet

d. Auguste Comte

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Who is credited with coining the term sociology?

a. Andre-Michel Guerry

b. Thomas Hobbes

c. Adolphe Quetelet

d. Auguste Comte

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. When law enforcement “cracks down” on gangs in relatively inactive periods, researchers claim it results in making the gang ______.

a. stronger

b. experience no change

c. weaker

d. break apart

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. When law enforcement cracks down on gangs, especially during relatively inactive periods, gangs will be stronger due to ______.

a. giving members a common enemy

b. making drug access easier

c. providing more guns to gang members

d. police corruption

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Durkheim claimed that in order to reduce excessive control of citizens and stagnation in creative thought, there has to be deviation from established moral boundaries in society, especially societies in the more ______.

a. industrial stage

b. mechanical stage

c. historic stage

d. post-industrial stage

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Durkheim emphasized that human beings, unlike other animal species that live according to their ______, have no internal mechanism to signal when their needs and desires are satiated.

a. natural needs

b. spontaneous needs

c. instinctual needs

d. none of these

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Criminal gangs primarily commit what types of crimes?

a. sexual or violent assaults

b. economic or property crimes

c. vandalism

d. murder or attempted murder

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Durkheim showed that the rate of suicide was lower among individuals that had all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ______.

a. adherents of religions that were more interactive and communal

b. young

c. married

d. had children

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Guerry found that ______ crimes were higher in wealthy areas but ______ crime was higher in poor areas.

a. property; violent

b. property; economic

c. economic; violent

d. violent; property

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. One thing all forms of strain theory have in common is their emphasis on a sense of ______ in crime causation.

a. gratification

b. frustration

c. satisfaction

d. contentment

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Merton’s Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. According to the text, providing an individual with a/an ______ is key to building a more stable life, leaving the individual less likely to feel stressed or “strained.”

a. money

b. education

c. job

d. mentor

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. All of the following are considered conventional means of success EXCEPT ______.

a. hard work

b. dealing drugs

c. getting an education

d. employment

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. All of the following are considered categories of strain within the general strain theory proposed by Agnew EXCEPT ______.

a. failure to conform to conventional means

b. noxious stimuli

c. failure to achieve goals

d. removal of positive stimuli

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: General Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. Which of the following would fit best with Merton’s adaptation of ritualism?

a. corner boy

b. delinquent boy

c. criminal boy

d. college boy

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. A type of gang that forms in lower-class neighborhoods with an organized structure of adult criminal behavior (highly organized and stable) is ______.

a. retreatist gangs

b. conflict gangs

c. criminal gangs

d. organized crime gangs

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. Who created differential opportunity theory?

a. Merton

b. Durkheim

c. Hirschi

d. Darwin

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. Who is credited with being the most influential theorist in modern structural perspectives of criminality?

a. Andre-Michel Guerry

b. Thomas Hobbes

c. Adolphe Quetelet

d. Émile Durkheim

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. Quetelet stated that individuals who were more likely to commit crime than their counterparts had all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ______.

a. educated

b. male

c. young

d. unemployed

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. The ______ is a type of lower-class male youth who responds to strains and status frustration by joining with similar others in a group to commit crime.

a. college boy

b. corner boy

c. criminal boy

d. delinquent boy

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. ______ showed that certain types of individuals were more likely to commit crime.

a. Andre-Michel Guerry

b. Thomas Hobbes

c. Adolphe Quetelet

d. Auguste Comte

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. What or who can provide the mechanism for limiting human individuals’ insatiable appetite for more?

a. media

b. individual ego

c. society

d. family

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. According to Cohen, youths begin to value destruction of property and skipping school because these behaviors ______.

a. defy the conventional order

b. lead to success in the conventional world

c. lead to a payoff in the unconventional world

d. defy the means and goals of society

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

23. Cohen’s theory of reaction formation is related to what theorist’s defense mechanisms?

a. Merton

b. Freud

c. Agnew

d. Durkheim

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. Studies focused on reducing crime among high-risk youth concluded that providing an individual with a/an ______, or the preparation for such, is key to building a more stable life.

a. automobile

b. parental figure

c. after-school mentor

d. job

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. What do we call the perception that results when relatively poor people live in close proximity to relatively wealthy people?

a. comparative disparity

b. relative deprivation

c. strained comparison

d. faulty esteem

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

26. Similarities in daily routine and constant interaction with like members of society lead to a strong uniformity in values that Durkheim called ______.

a. cultural conformity

b. collective conscience

c. outlier avoidance

d. societal uniformity

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

27. What did Durkheim call primitive societies with a simple distribution of labor and high level of agreement about social norms and rules?

a. organic societies

b. collective societies

c. mechanical societies

d. nirvana societies

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

28. This imbalance in emphasis between the ______ and _______ of societies is what Merton called anomie.

a. goals; means

b. rich; poor

c. criminals; non-offenders

d. government; citizens

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Merton’s Concept of Anomie and Strain

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. Merton identified conformity, innovation, rebellion, retreatism, and ritualism as ______.

a. the pathway to crime

b. adaptation to strain

c. main personality types

d. family archetypes

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Merton’s Concept of Anomie and Strain

Difficulty Level: Easy

30. Which adaptation to strain would most likely lead someone to become a predatory street criminal?

a. rebellion

b. retreatism

c. innovation

d. ritualism

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

31. Cohen’s “college boy” is best matched with Merton’s ______ type of adaptation to strain.

a. retreatism

b. rebellion

c. ritualism

d. conformity

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

32. A Freudian defense mechanism applied to Cohen’s theory of youth offending, which involves adopting attitudes or committing behaviors that are opposite of what is expected.

a. delinquent boy

b. reaction formation

c. rebellion

d. revolt

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

33. Cloward and Ohlin’s Differential Opportunity Theory is similar to Merton and Cohen’s theories in many ways; however, it recognizes ______ and _______ opportunities.

a. educational, vocational

b. urban, rural

c. legal, illegal

d. economic, emotional

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

34. According to differential opportunity theory, the three types of gangs are criminal gangs, conflict gangs, and ______ gangs.

a. economic

b. juvenile

c. variation

d. retreatist

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

35. According to Cloward and Ohlin, what type of gang fits Merton’s rebellion the best due to striving for status and being blocked from legitimate and illegitimate opportunities for making money?

a. criminal

b. conflict

c. retreatist

d. juvenile

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. According to Cloward and Ohlin, what type of gangs fit Merton’s retreatist adaptation the best, violates the law most through drug usage, and is blocked from both legitimate and illegitimate opportunities for making money?

a. criminal

b. conflict

c. retreatist

d. juvenile

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. Which theory takes the basic ideas of Merton, Cohen, Cloward, and Ohlin and adds two additional theories of strain: presentation of noxious stimuli and removal of positively valued stimuli.

a. differential opportunity

b. lower-class status frustration

c. Merton’s concept of anomie and strain

d. general strain theory

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: General Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

38. General Strain Theory has three categories of strain: presentation of noxious stimuli, removal of positively valued stimuli, and ______.

a. failure to achieve goals

b. breaking the law

c. anger at the world

d. drug use

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: General Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. Which type of program is NOT supported by empirical research on strain theory?

a. educational programs

b. vocational opportunities

c. developing coping mechanism

d. strict parole conditions

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Easy

40. Which statement is NOT a criticism of General Strain Theory mentioned in the chapter?

a. More study on subjective feelings of frustration is needed.

b. There is only mixed support for the idea certain events lead to anger.

c. There is only mixed support for the idea anger leads to crime.

d. All criminologists deny its face validity.

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: General Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Cohen emphasized youths’ internalization of the American Dream and fair chances for success, leading to frustration when they fail to be successful according to this middle-class standard.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Reaction formation involves adopting attitudes or committing behaviors that are the opposite of what is expected—a form of defiance and avoidance of guilt for not living up to the assumed standards.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Cohen stated that he believed the tendency to reject middle-class values is the primary cause of gangs.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. What distinguishes Cloward and Ohlin’s theory from the previous strain theories is that they emphasized five different types of gangs that form based on the characteristics of the social structure in the neighborhood.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Examples of criminal gangs are seen in movies depicting highly organized neighborhoods (often consisting of primarily one ethnicity)—movies such as The Godfather, A Bronx Tale, State of Grace, Sleepers, New Jack City, Clockers, Goodfellas, Better Luck Tomorrow, and many others that were partially based on real events.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. According to Durkheim, in primitive mechanical societies virtually everyone experiences essentially the same daily routine.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Conflict gangs are highly organized and turn a tremendous profit.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. A key policy implication of strain theories is the need to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. The first modern national crime statistics were published in England in the early 1800s.

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. According to Cohen, lower-class male youths will adopt a normative value system that defies the very values they are expected to live up to by changing their normative beliefs to value authority, school achievement, and respect for authority.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. One type of activity that has shown relatively consistent success in relieving stress is laughter.

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: General Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. Organic societies in the Durkheimian model are those that have a high division of labor and thus a low level of agreement about societal norms.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

13. Durkheim was clear in stating that crime is not only normal but necessary in all societies.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

14. According to Cloward and Ohlin, conflict gangs are blocked not only from legitimate opportunities but also from illegitimate opportunities.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. According to Merton, innovation, retreatism, and rebellion are adaptations to strain that are the least likely to lead to criminal offending.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. Merton’s ritualists do not seek to achieve the goals of material success.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. Ritualists, in strain theory, buy into both the conventional means of success and the conventional goals.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

18. Using a basketball analogy to explain adaptations to strain, a retreatist wouldn’t care about winning the game and wouldn’t want to play the game either.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. There has been little criticism of Merton’s theories.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evidence and Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. The age at which offenders tend to commit predatory street crimes, such as robbery, rape, murder, and burglary, tends to peak sharply in their teenage years to early 20s, and then drop off quickly.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Evidence and Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. A young man who feels he doesn’t live up to the “middle-class measuring rod,” and then develops a system of values that is contrary to middle-class values would fit Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

22. Cohen’s “corner boy” best fits with Merton’s type of adaptation called ritualism.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Although some studies have criticized General Strain Theory, for the most part, studies have supported it.

Learning Objective: 8.5: Discuss how Robert Agnew’s proposed model of general strain added more sources of strain to Merton’s original framework.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Evidence and Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. In the Durkheimian model, mechanical societies have a high division of labor and thus a low level of agreement about societal norms.

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Easy

25. Empirical studies of strain theories support programs that involve education, vocational opportunities, and developing healthy coping mechanisms.

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed policy making in attempts to reduce criminality.

Learning Objective: 8.6: Identify some ways the various models of strain theory have informed the making of policies intended to reduce criminality.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Policy Implications

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Explain how Merton altered Durkheim’s version of what “anomie” means, a definition we will explore below.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cultural Context and Assumptions of Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Strain theories all trace their origin to the theory of what criminologist?

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Merton’s Strain Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Explain the concept of relative deprivation.

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. What is reaction formation?

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. What are the adaptations to strain Merton proposed? Explain the five (5) different adaptations to strain and give an example of each.

Learning Objective: 8.3: Explain why Robert K. Merton’s theory of strain become popular when it did, as well as how his conceptualization of “anomie” differed from Durkheim’s.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Adaptations to Strain

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. Explain Durkheim’s concept of anomie and how it relates to societal changes. Give an example of a time of anomie in the United States and how society was affected.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Explain Cohen’s model of status frustration.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cohen’s Theory of Lower-Class Status Frustration and Gang Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Émile Durkheim discussed the idea of collective conscience. Explain what this is in relation to individuals in a society as well as the two (2) different types of societies also discussed by Durkheim. How is crime affected by the strength of the collective conscience in a community, and why?

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. What was Auguste Comte credited with emphasizing and researching?

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. What did Andre-Michel Guerry ultimately conclude from his report examining the first modern national crime statistics?

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Why do criminal gangs use youth for their “dirty work”?

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Cloward and Ohlin’s Theory of Differential Opportunity

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Why was Quetelet’s model controversial at the time he proposed it?

Learning Objective: 8.1: Describe the early theories of social structure presented in the 19th century.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Early European Theorists of Social Structure: Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. What does Durkheim mean when he states that humans have no internal mechanism to signal when their needs and desires are satiated?

Learning Objective: 8.2: Identify Émile Durkheim’s contributions to the evolution of social structure theories.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Durkheim and the Concept of Anomie

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. What strengths and weaknesses do you see in social structural theories? Provide examples.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Identify some of the revisions or variations of strain theory and note how they differ from Merton’s original theory.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Found throughout the chapter

Difficulty Level: Medium