Deck 4: Anomiestrain Theories of Crime

Question 1

Anomie theories focus on explaining which of the following?

A) How motive is derived from biological characteristics of individuals.
B) How motive is derived from one's peer group.
C) Why some societies have higher rates of crime than others.
D) Why some individuals commit more crime than others.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

"In American society, crime is high, because the inability of large numbers of people to reach the goal of success causes norms to lose their power to regulate or control people's behaviors. People feel free to do whatever they want to reach their goals." What theoretical concept best describes this situation?

A) Anomie.
B) Social learning.
C) General strain.
D) Conformity.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

According to Albert Cohen's theory of status frustration, which of the following statements is true?

A) Even when frustrated, lower-class delinquents continue to believe in middle-class values and try to get good grades in school.
B) Unlike other strain theories, Cohen believed that kids of all classes suffered from status frustration, which is why kids of all social classes are equally delinquent.
C) Status frustration is the main reason why delinquent subcultures arise in lower-class neighborhoods rather than in middle-class neighborhoods.
D) Cohen argues that the need for status has deep biological roots in men, which is why their involvement is so much higher in crime than that of women; by nature, men are more likely to experience status frustration.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which theory argues that the American Dream causes crime by placing such an emphasis on money and economic achievement that it weakens the American family's ability to informally control delinquent behavior?

A) Cohen's status frustration theory.
B) Merton's anomie/strain theory.
C) Agnew's general strain theory.
D) Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional-anomie theory.

Question 5

"John got into a fight because of all the strain he was feeling after he lost his job and his girlfriend broke up with him." What type of strain would Agnew say this is?

A) The failure to achieve positively valued goals.
B) The removal of positively valued stimuli.
C) The presentation of negative stimuli.
D) The introduction of status frustration.

Question 6

Robert Merton believed that the United States has such a high crime rate because

A) Like the Philadelphia slum in which he grew up, there were many neighborhoods that were socially disorganized.
B) Delinquent subcultures were strong in the nation's inner cities and induced many youths to commit acts of violence.
C) In the United States, there was a disjunction or gap between what many people were led to want-economic success-and what they had the means to achieve.
D) The rise of broken homes in the United States has resulted in too many of the nation's children growing up without the love and supervision that they need to stay out of trouble.

Question 7

According to Agnew's general strain theory, which of the following is true?

A) When under strain, people who feel anger are more likely to commit crime.
B) Research shows that strain is unrelated to crime.
C) There is little evidence that the loss of something you value causes crime.
D) Blocked opportunities are the only strain that causes crime.

Question 8

According to Robert Merton's classic strain theory, which of the following adaptations to strain is most likely to be associated with property crime or drug dealing?

A) Conformity.
B) Innovation.
C) Ritualism.
D) Retreatism.

Question 9

According to Robert Merton's classic strain theory, which of the following adaptations to strain is most likely to be associated with behaviors like drug addiction and vagrancy?

A) Rebellion.
B) Innovation.
C) Ritualism.
D) Retreatism.

Question 10

Merton's anomie theory suggests that when groups of people feel strain, that can lead to a high rate of crime because of the disconnect between

A) Parents and children.
B) Educational achievements and economic success.
C) Cultural goals related to monetary success and institutional norms of how people are to achieve that success.
D) Negative emotions and social institutions.

Question 11

From the perspective of Merton's anomie theory, what would be an example of legitimate means of achieving cultural goals?

A) Strong family supervision.
B) The unrestrained pursuit of money.
C) Individualism.
D) Formal education.

Question 12

What is the concept that Agnew uses to describe events and conditions that are generally disliked by most people?

A) General strains.
B) Objective strains.
C) Subjective strains.
D) Vicarious strains.

Question 13

What is the concept that Agnew uses to describe strains experienced by others around an individual, especially those with whom the individual has a close relationship?

A) General strains.
B) Objective strains.
C) Subjective strains.
D) Vicarious strains.

Question 14

According to Agnew's strain theory, which of the following is true?

A) All strains result in crime.
B) Crime is more likely when experienced in conjunction with high social control.
C) Crime is especially likely when an individual experiences multiple strains close together in time.
D) Crime is especially likely when there is an institutional imbalance between the economy and other institutions (e.g., family, school, polity).

Question 15

Suppose a researcher finds the following: Delinquency is higher among individuals experiencing a variety of negative life events and various relational problems. Which theory is most supported by such findings?

A) Merton's classic strain theory.
B) Cohen's status frustration theory.
C) Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional-anomie theory.
D) Agnew's general strain theory.

Question 16

Suppose a researcher finds the following: Rates of crime are lower in countries with stronger families, schools, and political systems. Which theory is most supported by such findings?

A) Merton's anomie theory.
B) Cohen's status frustration theory.
C) Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional-anomie theory.
D) Agnew's general strain theory.

Question 17

Suppose a researcher finds the following: Delinquency is higher among individuals experiencing a strain in the presence of negative emotionality and low constraint. Which theory is most supported by such findings?

A) Merton's classic strain theory.
B) Cohen's status frustration theory.
C) Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional-anomie theory.
D) Agnew's general strain theory.

Question 18

According to Merton, the overwhelming goal in American society is

A) Higher education.
B) Strong family.
C) Strong government.
D) Monetary success.

Question 19

Which of the following theories can best account for crime among kids from wealthy families?

A) Merton's classic strain theory.
B) Cohen's status frustration theory.
C) Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional-anomie theory.
D) Agnew's general strain theory.

Question 20

Explain the concept of anomie, from the work of Robert Merton. According to Merton, what role did anomie play in crime?

Question 21

Clearly discuss how Messner and Rosenfeld build on and extend Merton's anomie theory with their institutional-anomie theory.

Question 22

Describe the five adaptations to strain discussed by Merton. Give an example of each as well.

Question 23

How is Cohen's use of strain theory similar to and different from Merton's version of strain theory?

Question 24

Describe the key aspects of the American Dream according to Messner and Rosenfeld. Second, why/how does the American Dream promote crime?

Question 25

Drawing on Agnew's general strain theory, list three strains that are likely to cause crime and three strains that are relatively less likely to cause crime. Justify your selections.

Question 26

Describe the process whereby strains can lead to crime according to Agnew's general strain theory.