Deck 20: Social Control

Question 1

Which of the following best describes Social Control Theory?

A) A theory that examines the devices employed which limit undesirable behaviour to bring individuals in conformity with the societal norm
B) A theory that focuses on the biosocial reasons underlying deviant behaviour
C) A theory that examines the costs and benefits of engaging in deviant or criminal behaviour
D) A theory that focuses on social class and economic deprivations as the primary cause of criminal and deviant behaviour

Answer 1

A

Question 2

With regard to Toby's (1957) concept of a 'stake in conformity', what increases the likelihood that an individual will engage in delinquency?

A) The individual feels they have a significant stake in society, leading to a reduced incentive to conform to social norms
B) The individual feels they have a significant stake in society, leading to an increased incentive to enforce the law
C) The individual has few to no stakes in society, leading to a reduced incentive to conform to social norms
D) The individual has few to no stakes in society, leading to an increased incentive to try and conform to social norms

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of informal social control?

A) The police arrest someone who is drunk and disorderly
B) Someone is imprisoned for selling illicit drugs
C) Someone has to pay a fine for speeding
D) Someone is ridiculed for smoking cigarettes by family members

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following best describes how Durkheim conceptualised social control?

A) Social control rests on a culturally maintained and normative sense of moral order that holds value in the minds of individuals
B) Social control
C) Social control
D) Social control

Question 5

Ross (2009[1901]) argued that, as society develops, an increase in impersonal and contractual relations weakens four natural human instincts that would usually contribute to a harmonious society. These four instincts are sympathy, sense of justice, resentment to mistreatment and:

A) Protection of family
B) Sociability
C) Aggression
D) Sense of community

Question 6

The two twinned factors, identified by Shaw and McKay's (1942) ecological study of Chicago, that are thought to influence social control in urban development are:

A) High rates of population turnover and Community heterogeneity
B) Economic deprivation and High community police presence
C) Low rates of population turnover and Community heterogeneity
D) Economic abundance and Low community police presence

Question 7

According to Bursik and Grasmick (1993), what are the 3 levels of control within the community?

A) The legal, the private and the parochial
B) The parochial, the public and the legal
C) The private, the parochial and the public
D) The public, the private and the legal

Question 8

According to Bursik and Grasmick (1993), what is meant by 'the parochial' level of control within the community?

A) The capacity for neighbourhoods to secure productive services from larger political and economic institutions
B) The capacity for intimate peer relations and family members do draw on larger community resources to reinforce control
C) The control is exercised closely by intimate relations
D) The control that is exercised by neighbourhood residents and predominant institutions

Question 9

What is meant by the concept of a 'stake in conformity'?

A) The extent to which an individual contributes to the creation of social norms
B) The extent to which an individual has an incentive to conform to social norms
C) The extent to which a group has an incentive to break down social norms
D) The extent to which a group contributes to the reinforcement of existing social norms

Question 10

What is 'medical control' in the context of social control?

A) The use of moral reinforcement from peers and informal institutions
B) The use of medical personal or knowledge to pacify unsocial behaviour
C) The use of the law, police and criminal justice to maintain order
D) The use of medications that can directly control behaviour