Question 1

Which of the following is an empirical question and hence, a scientific question?

Accepted Answer

A)  Which political system is the best one? 
B)  Does God exist? 
C)  Is this painting more beautiful than that one? 
D)  Which politician is the best one? 
E)  None of the above; all are unscientific questions 
A)  Which political system is the best one? 
B)  Does God exist? 
C)  Is this painting more beautiful than that one? 
D)  Which politician is the best one? 
E)  None of the above; all are unscientific questions

Question 2

The differential association theory of crime is primarily an explanation based on learning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Why was social disorganization theory abandoned in the 1940s? Why did it make a comeback after the late 1980s?

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory was abando

Question 4

What is the central explanatory factor of social control theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  deviant socialization 
B)  absence of bonds to conventional society 
C)  a disjunction between the culture, which stresses success motivation, and society's social and economic structure 
D)  inadequate parenting 
E)  none of the above 
A)  deviant socialization 
B)  absence of bonds to conventional society 
C)  a disjunction between the culture, which stresses success motivation, and society's social and economic structure 
D)  inadequate parenting 
E)  none of the above

Question 5

The unit of analysis of the social disorganization school is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  neighborhood or community 
B)  individual 
C)  family 
D)  state 
E)  society 
A)  neighborhood or community 
B)  individual 
C)  family 
D)  state 
E)  society

Question 6

Demonic possession-being possessed by the devil or other evil spirits-is:

Accepted Answer

A)  is an example of the free will or rational calculus school of criminology. 
B)  the most ancient explanation for wrongdoing. 
C)  an acceptable sociological theory of deviance and crime. 
D)  an example of a positivistic or scientific explanation for deviance. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  is an example of the free will or rational calculus school of criminology. 
B)  the most ancient explanation for wrongdoing. 
C)  an acceptable sociological theory of deviance and crime. 
D)  an example of a positivistic or scientific explanation for deviance. 
E)  none of the above

Question 7

The criminologist known for fashioning a biological theory of crime is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Emile Durkheim 
B)  Robert K. Merton 
C) Edwin Sutherland 
D)  Cesare Lombroso 
E)  Travis Hirschi 
A)  Emile Durkheim 
B)  Robert K. Merton 
C) Edwin Sutherland 
D)  Cesare Lombroso 
E)  Travis Hirschi

Question 8

Which of the following theories argues that persons do not have to be stressed into committing deviance, nor does anyone have to learn to engage in deviant behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  anomie theory 
B)  differential association theory 
C)  social disorganization theory 
D)  social control theory 
E)  none of the above 
A)  anomie theory 
B)  differential association theory 
C)  social disorganization theory 
D)  social control theory 
E)  none of the above

Question 9

In many ways, the "self-control" theory of Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi ("a general theory of crime") contradicts the social control theory advocated by the selfsame Travis Hirschi two decades earlier. In what ways are the two theories contradictory? In what ways are they similar or based on the same principles?

Accepted Answer

The "self-control" theory of Michael Got

Question 10

A central assumption of positivist criminologists is determinism-that criminal behavior has a cause, and criminologists can determine what its causes are.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The social disorganization school argues that the cause of criminal, deviant, and delinquent behavior is that entire neighborhoods fail to monitor and sanction wrongdoing among their residents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following theories is most likely to take the entire society as the unit of analysis subject to the deviance-causing agent?

Accepted Answer

A)  anomie theory 
B)  social control theory 
C)  self-control theory 
D)  social disorganization theory 
E)  routine activities theory 
A)  anomie theory 
B)  social control theory 
C)  self-control theory 
D)  social disorganization theory 
E)  routine activities theory

Question 13

What is the central explanatory factor of community disorganization?

Accepted Answer

A)  inadequate parenting 
B)  deviant socialization 
C)  a disjunction between the culture, which stresses success motivation, and society's social and economic structure 
D)  absence of bonds to conventional society 
E)  zones of transition 
A)  inadequate parenting 
B)  deviant socialization 
C)  a disjunction between the culture, which stresses success motivation, and society's social and economic structure 
D)  absence of bonds to conventional society 
E)  zones of transition

Question 14

Differential association argues that the mass media represent the most powerful mechanisms of learning to engage in deviant, criminal, and delinquent behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Positivism is centrally concerned with scientifically determining what's moral and immoral.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Another term for the Chicago school is the differential association theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which of Merton's "adaptations" is exemplified by becoming a drug addict?

Accepted Answer

A)  ritualism 
B)  innovation 
C)  rebellion 
D)  retreatism 
E)  conformity 
A)  ritualism 
B)  innovation 
C)  rebellion 
D)  retreatism 
E)  conformity

Question 18

Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi, authors of "self-control" theory, argue that all other perspectives are wrong, or inconsistent with the facts of crime--except for two. Why do they believe that their theory annihilates the others? And what are the two that, they admit, are consistent with theirs, and how can these two theories be reconciled with their own approach?

Accepted Answer

Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi,

Question 19

Which of the following theories argues that virtually everyone would engage in deviance and crime if given the opportunity; sociologists do not have to explain the motivated offender; he/she can simply be assumed.

Accepted Answer

A)  anomie theory 
B)  genetic theories 
C)  differential association theory 
D)  learning theory 
E)  self-control theory 
A)  anomie theory 
B)  genetic theories 
C)  differential association theory 
D)  learning theory 
E)  self-control theory

Question 20

Robert K. Merton conceptualized anomie as a disjunction between:

Accepted Answer

A)  structurally defined goals and culturally available opportunities. 
B)  culturally defined goals and structurally available opportunities. 
C)  both structurally defined goals and culturally available opportunities. 
D)  neither culturally defined goals nor structurally available opportunities. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  structurally defined goals and culturally available opportunities. 
B)  culturally defined goals and structurally available opportunities. 
C)  both structurally defined goals and culturally available opportunities. 
D)  neither culturally defined goals nor structurally available opportunities. 
E)  none of the above

Which of the following is an empirical question and hence, a scientific question?

The differential association theory of crime is primarily an explanation based on learning.

Why was social disorganization theory abandoned in the 1940s? Why did it make a comeback after the late 1980s?

What is the central explanatory factor of social control theory?

The unit of analysis of the social disorganization school is the:

Demonic possession-being possessed by the devil or other evil spirits-is:

The criminologist known for fashioning a biological theory of crime is:

Which of the following theories argues that persons do not have to be stressed into committing deviance, nor does anyone have to learn to engage in deviant behavior?

A central assumption of positivist criminologists is determinism-that criminal behavior has a cause, and criminologists can determine what its causes are.

The social disorganization school argues that the cause of criminal, deviant, and delinquent behavior is that entire neighborhoods fail to monitor and sanction wrongdoing among their residents.

Which of the following theories is most likely to take the entire society as the unit of analysis subject to the deviance-causing agent?

What is the central explanatory factor of community disorganization?

Differential association argues that the mass media represent the most powerful mechanisms of learning to engage in deviant, criminal, and delinquent behavior.

Positivism is centrally concerned with scientifically determining what's moral and immoral.

Another term for the Chicago school is the differential association theory.

Which of Merton's "adaptations" is exemplified by becoming a drug addict?

Which of the following theories argues that virtually everyone would engage in deviance and crime if given the opportunity; sociologists do not have to explain the motivated offender; he/she can simply be assumed.

Robert K. Merton conceptualized anomie as a disjunction between:

Introducing Deviance

Constructing Deviance

Poverty and Disrepute

Crime and Criminalization Criminal Behavior

White Collar Crime

Substance Abuse

Sexual Deviance

Unconventional Beliefs

Mental Disorder

Deviant Physical Characteristics

Tribal Stigma: Race, Religion, and Ethnicity

Filters

Exam 2: Explaining Deviant Behavior

Which of the following is an empirical question and hence, a scientific question?

The differential association theory of crime is primarily an explanation based on learning.

Why was social disorganization theory abandoned in the 1940s? Why did it make a comeback after the late 1980s?

What is the central explanatory factor of social control theory?

The unit of analysis of the social disorganization school is the:

Demonic possession-being possessed by the devil or other evil spirits-is:

The criminologist known for fashioning a biological theory of crime is:

Which of the following theories argues that persons do not have to be stressed into committing deviance, nor does anyone have to learn to engage in deviant behavior?

A central assumption of positivist criminologists is determinism-that criminal behavior has a cause, and criminologists can determine what its causes are.

The social disorganization school argues that the cause of criminal, deviant, and delinquent behavior is that entire neighborhoods fail to monitor and sanction wrongdoing among their residents.

Which of the following theories is most likely to take the entire society as the unit of analysis subject to the deviance-causing agent?

What is the central explanatory factor of community disorganization?

Differential association argues that the mass media represent the most powerful mechanisms of learning to engage in deviant, criminal, and delinquent behavior.

Positivism is centrally concerned with scientifically determining what's moral and immoral.

Another term for the Chicago school is the differential association theory.

Which of Merton's "adaptations" is exemplified by becoming a drug addict?

Which of the following theories argues that virtually everyone would engage in deviance and crime if given the opportunity; sociologists do not have to explain the motivated offender; he/she can simply be assumed.

Robert K. Merton conceptualized anomie as a disjunction between:

Introducing Deviance

Constructing Deviance

Poverty and Disrepute

Crime and Criminalization Criminal Behavior

White Collar Crime

Substance Abuse

Sexual Deviance

Unconventional Beliefs

Mental Disorder

Deviant Physical Characteristics

Tribal Stigma: Race, Religion, and Ethnicity

Filters