Exam 7: Socialization and Crime

Which statement outlines the underlying principle of social process theories?

Parents of teenagers are often concerned about who their teens spend time hanging out with. What does research evidence indicate about what role parents should play in the lives of their teens in order to discourage involvement in criminal behaviour?

A major premise of social reaction theory is that the law is differentially constructed and applied, depending on the offenders.

What would a social reaction theorist say is the most important factor in determining whether or not an individual will engage in or repeat criminal behaviour?

Children who fail in school are more likely to commit more serious offences that persist into adulthood.

Learning theories contribute significantly to our understanding of the onset of criminal behaviour. Nonetheless, the general learning model has been criticized. Discuss those criticisms.

Labelling theory is one which provides for equal treatment of offenders across class and racial lines.

According to the social reaction approach, crime and deviance are defined by the moral content of the illegal act itself.

Who developed the differential association theory?

Empirical evidence supports the view that labelling plays an important role in persistent offending.

Another name for social reaction theory is labelling theory.

What is retrospective reading?

Discuss the merits of Aboriginal Head Start Programs in Canada and whether you agree that such programs are necessary? Explain your position.

According to cross-national research, what is the relationship between church attendance and crime rates?

Which of the following terms would be used by a social reaction theorist to describe a situation in which a young person goes to a party and smokes marijuana but achieves honour roll standing and never breaks the law again?

Travis Hirschi argues that the social bond a person maintains with society is divided into four main elements. Which of these lists includes all of these bonds?

What would a social control theorist say is the most important factor in determining whether or not an individual will engage in or repeat criminal behaviour?

According to Lemert, secondary deviance involves resocialization into a deviant role.

Jim has been told all his life that he is "bad" and that he will not amount to anything. As Jim gets older he starts to get into trouble with the law. What stage or process is Jim engaging in?

Briefly compare and contrast social learning theory, social control theory, and social reaction theory.