Deck 9: Labeling Theory

Question 1

Labeling theory attempts to explain why juveniles:

A) commit their first delinquent acts
B) engage in subsequent delinquent acts
C) engage in sexual versus assaultive delinquency
D) engage in minor delinquency
E) engage in any form of delinquency

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to many labeling theorists, the reaction most likely to increase further delinquency is to:

A) view the juvenile as bad and treat him or her in a harsh manner
B) ignore the delinquent behavior
C) condemn the delinquent act but accept the juvenile
D) accept the juvenile with love and understanding

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Labeling theory:

A) is of value because it influences practices of the juvenile justice system
B) is of little value for today's juvenile justice system because its popularity ended in the late 1960s
C) is of little value because it fails to explain why juveniles engage in delinquency
D) is of value because it explains why juveniles start a delinquent career

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Most labeling theorists would argue that certain acts are defined as status offenses because:

A) juveniles lack the cognitive and moral development necessary to responsibly engage in such activities
B) parents need the support of the state in raising their children
C) such laws help both juveniles and parents to recognize the appropriate standards of behavior for young people
D) powerful groups in society are threatened by such behaviors or find these behaviors morally objectionable
E) all of the above

Question 5

An essential feature of the harsh/rejecting reaction is to label the ____________ as bad.

A) delinquent act
B) juvenile
C) law
D) community

Question 6

Police who stop juveniles and have them engage in activities such as singing "Jingle Bells" tend to do so because they (the police):

A) have a camaraderie with the juveniles in their community
B) are trying to improve their community relations in the neighborhoods they patrol
C) want youths to engage in "clean" fun
D) view these juveniles as bad or dangerous people

Question 7

One of the main reasons for a failure to respond to delinquency is because:

A) most parents believe their kids don't deserve to be sanctioned
B) police lack evidence to arrest
C) parents are overwhelmed with the "bad" behaviors of their children
D) police and parents don't know about the delinquency

Question 8

According to Agnew and Brezina, juvenile delinquency often is subject to mild sanction because:

A) most suspected juvenile offenders are not arrested by police
B) almost half of juveniles referred to juvenile court are not formally processed
C) parents do not believe their children deserve serious sanction
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 9

Policies of radical nonintervention include:

A) eliminating or decriminalizing status offenses
B) eliminating the juvenile justice system
C) eliminating or decriminalizing almost all delinquent acts
D) creating new programs for juveniles accused of committing status offenses or minor delinquent acts
E) all of the above

Question 10

Those who accept the "condemn the sin but love the sinner" position on juvenile justice would most likely favor a ___________ approach to dealing with juvenile offenders.

A) radical nonintervention
B) restorative justice
C) harsh/rejecting
D) fixed sentences

Question 11

The essential feature(s) of the "condemn the delinquency but accept the juvenile" reaction to juvenile delinquency is/are:

A) harshly punish delinquent acts so they are not repeated
B) let the juvenile know that future delinquent acts will be met with severe consequences
C) sanction the delinquent act while maintaining close ties to the juvenile
D) all of the above

Question 12

Mary hit Janice during lunch at school. School officials reacted to this act of delinquency by setting up a conference between Mary, Janice, their parents, and the school counselor to discuss the reason for the behavior and come to some agreement on what Mary can do to repair the harm. This type of response most closely resembles a ___________.

A) harsh/rejecting response
B) radical intervention
C) radical nonintervention
D) restorative justice approach

Question 13

Labeling theory is derived from the sociological perspective known as:

A) functionalism
B) symbolic interactionism
C) conflict
D) ethnomethodology

Question 14

A central premise of labeling theory is that the "harsh/rejecting" reaction creates a:

A) delinquent self-concept
B) paranoid self-concept
C) strong self-concept
D) timid self-concept

Question 15

The factor most likely to increase the likelihood that juveniles will experience a "harsh/rejecting" reaction to their delinquent behaviors is the:

A) race of the offender
B) sex of the offender
C) socioeconomic status of the offender
D) seriousness of the offense
E) all of the above are equally influential

Question 16

According to Agnew and Brezina, juvenile offenders who are harshly treated and who are _____________ are most likely to respond to harsh reaction with future delinquency.

A) drug and/or alcohol users
B) in conflict with parents
C) low in control
D) often absent from school
E) abused by peers

Question 17

Labeling theory draws heavily on which of the following theories?

A) strain
B) control
C) social learning
D) all of the above

Question 18

Labeling theorists would argue that the effect of the harsh/rejecting reaction on delinquency is conditioned by:

A) peers' approval of delinquency
B) parents' approval of delinquency
C) the characteristics of juvenile offenders
D) school systems' position on serious offenses

Question 19

The core part of the restorative justice approach involves a conference between:

A) the victim and offender
B) family members of the victim and the offender
C) community members
D) all of the above

Question 20

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the restorative justice approach?

A) The offender helps develop a plan to repair the harm.
B) Sanctions such as incarceration are frequently used.
C) It appears to be less effective than traditional approaches to justice.
D) The offender must be proven guilty just as in a traditional court hearing.

Question 21

When examining the sociodemographic characteristics of juveniles, which group is most likely to experience the harsh/rejecting reaction?

A) middle-class juveniles
B) Caucasians
C) females
D) older juveniles

Question 22

What are the major questions addressed by labeling theorists?

Question 23

Labeling theorists commonly argue that powerful groups in society largely influence the types of acts deemed delinquent or status offenses. To what extent does the discussion in Chapter 1 surrounding the "invention of juvenile delinquency" support this position? Explain.

Question 24

Describe the essential features of the harsh/rejecting reaction. Provide examples to illustrate both official and unofficial reactions that use such an approach.

Question 25

Discuss the relationship between the juvenile justice system's trend toward getting tougher on certain offenders and labeling theory's concept of harsh/rejecting reactions to delinquency.

Question 26

Explain why the behavior of juveniles who engage in delinquency is often ignored or mildly sanctioned.

Question 27

Labeling theorists who favor a policy of radical nonintervention believe such a policy will reduce delinquency. Explain their arguments.

Question 28

Describe strategies of radical nonintervention discussed by Agnew and Brezina. Explain how each would reduce delinquency.

Question 29

Provide an example of a restorative justice approach that could be implemented by parents whose children are caught shoplifting. Explain how it would discourage future acts of shoplifting.

Question 30

Provide an example of a restorative justice approach that could be implemented by juvenile justice personnel to deal with juveniles who are caught shoplifting. Explain how it would discourage future acts of shoplifting.

Question 31

Use control, strain, and/or social learning theories to explain why a "harsh/rejecting" reaction leads to further delinquency.

Question 32

Explain how a "harsh/rejecting" reaction to delinquency can affect self-concept and subsequent behavior.

Question 33

Discuss factors that increase the likelihood that juveniles will experience a "harsh/rejecting" reaction to their delinquent behaviors.

Question 34

Explain how the "Saints" and "Roughnecks" illustrate differences in "harsh/rejecting" responses to delinquency.

Question 35

Use the major theories to explain why juveniles low in control are more likely to respond to the harsh/rejecting reaction with further delinquency.

Question 36

Design an ideal test of labeling theory. Discuss ethical and practical issues that would impede implementation of your design.

Question 37

Identify and explain the weaknesses associated with research that tests labeling theory by comparing arrested delinquents with those delinquents who have not been arrested.

Question 38

Agnew and Brezina discuss a "generic version of labeling theory" that draws from the leading versions of labeling theory. What are the main propositions of this generic labeling theory?

Question 39

Discuss the impact that labeling theory has on the juvenile justice system.

Question 40

Recently labeling theorists have come to focus on the "informal" reactions to delinquency by parents, teachers, and others. According to labeling theorists, are these informal reactions as important to examine as official reactions? Why or why not? Which of these reactions are more common among juvenile delinquents?

Question 41

Labeling theorists argue that the "condemn the delinquency but accept the juvenile" reaction does not have the negative effects associated with the harsh/rejecting reaction. Why would this be true?

Question 42

Do juvenile delinquents ever receive positive reactions to their arrest and detention? If so, why would this be? Provide examples.