Exam 4: Anomiestrain Theory

Anomie and strain theories are both concerned with social structures and how such structures constrain behavior of individuals and cause deviance.

______ is a state of normlessness, in which society fails to regulate expectations and behaviors of its members.

According to differential opportunity theory, criminal subcultures and the neighborhoods in which they reside can perpetuate crime through generations.

According to Merton (1938), "Social Structure & Anomie" argues the goals of success, especially economic success, are viewed as legitimate expectations and norms for everyone in American culture.

Differential opportunity theories argue motivations and availability of opportunities to learn about and participate in deviant behavior must be considered in the study of deviance.

Racism is an example of ______, an obstacle that exists for whole classes of people who wish to attain wealth using legitimate means.

Cloward and Ohlin argued that the different kinds of illegitimate opportunities available in poor urban neighborhoods lead to three types of criminal subcultures. List and describe in detail the three types of criminal subcultures.

Relative deprivation suggests that ______ has a direct impact on community crime rates.

According to Messner and Rosenfeld (2007) what is a primary driver of crime in America?

Which two theories form the basis of Cloward and Ohlin's Theory?

Which adaptation to strain is exemplified by the chronically homeless and serious drug addicts?

Emile Durkheim suggested deviance results from a lack of regulation of goals combined with unlimited desires/needs.

Cloward and Ohlin extended Merton's Strain Theory by ______.

According to anomie theories, it is not society that has failed to regulate expectations of its members, but the individual who has failed to regulate his/her own expectations of behavior.

Which of the following is an assumption of anomie/strain theories?

According to Robert Agnew's General Strain Theory, not all individuals respond to strain with crime and deviance. What types of strain are most likely to lead to deviant behavior and/or crime?

According to Robert Agnew's General Strain Theory, some people are more predisposed to crime than others.

Describe how Durkheim would apply his version of Anomie Theory to contemporary American society.

According to Merton, what is the most common adaptation to anomie?

Cohen argued that status frustration may lead to the collective solution of forming a ______ in which middle-class norms and values are replaced with their opposite.