Deck 6: Strain Theory

Question 1

According to strain theory, delinquent behavior directly results from:

A) the belief that crime pays
B) negative emotions like anger or frustration
C) failure of others to control the juvenile
D) association with peers who encourage delinquency

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to strain theory, people may engage in delinquency:

A) to get revenge
B) to escape from or reduce strain
C) to reduce their negative feelings
D) all of the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is a general category of strain that might lead to delinquency?

A) weak social control
B) association with others involved in crime
C) failure to achieve goals
D) effects of negative labels

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to the text, much delinquency results from the failure to achieve __________ goals.

A) monetary
B) autonomy
C) masculinity
D) all of the above

Question 5

Which of the following is not a type of strain?

A) negative reinforcement
B) failure to achieve your goals
C) loss of positive stimuli
D) presentation of negative stimuli

Question 6

An adolescent who every day hurries home from school in an effort to avoid a school bully is engaging in:

A) emotional coping
B) associative coping
C) cognitive coping
D) behavioral coping

Question 7

Sandy regularly drinks alcohol in an attempt to numb her bad feelings. This is an example of:

A) emotional coping
B) associative coping
C) cognitive coping
D) behavioral coping

Question 8

Alice is bullied regularly in school. She typically responds to these bullying incidents with the thought, "I deserve it." This is an example of:

A) emotional coping
B) associative coping
C) cognitive coping
D) behavioral coping

Question 9

Which of the following factors increases the likelihood that juveniles will respond to strain with delinquency?

A) holding several different goals
B) blaming oneself for one's problems
C) lack of family support
D) all of the above

Question 10

Which of the following factors is a conditioning variable in strain theory?

A) loss of positive stimuli
B) delinquency
C) negative emotions like anger
D) coping skills

Question 11

Agnew and Brezina discuss various types of negative treatment that increase the likelihood for delinquency. Which of the following is not included in the discussion?

A) parental rejection
B) delinquent social supports
C) homelessness
D) strict or excessive parental discipline
E) abusive peer relations

Question 12

The term "goal blockage" refers to:

A) committing delinquent acts in order to rebel against parents and teachers
B) the perceived ability to achieve goals through legitimate means
C) the perceived inability to achieve goals through legitimate means
D) the perceived inability to escape goals determined by society

Question 13

Adolescents frequently clash with parents and teachers over issues involving autonomy, such as:

A) clothing
B) interpersonal relations
C) bedtime
D) all of the above

Question 14

Agnew and Brezina discuss how denial of autonomy may lead to delinquency for several reasons. Which of the following is one of those reasons?

A) Delinquency is a way to achieve masculinity.
B) Delinquency may be a means of venting frustration against those who deny autonomy.
C) Delinquency may be a means of obtaining money for those who live in poor areas.
D) Delinquency is fun and exciting, and juveniles crave risky activities.

Question 15

Adolescents find their desire for autonomy frustrated in the school system due to:

A) school's extensive regulations
B) school's emphasis on authoritarian styles of teaching
C) the lack of freedom given to students
D) all of the above

Question 16

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding strain and delinquency?

A) Strain is more likely to lead to delinquency when it involves areas of life that the individual considers important.
B) Strain is more likely to lead to delinquency among individuals with positive coping skills and resources.
C) Strain is more likely to lead to delinquency among individuals with a number of conventional social supports.
D) none of the above

Question 17

There is some reason to believe that this desire for thrills/excitement is in part:

A) a personality disorder
B) a symptom of drug use
C) biologically based
D) abnormal among youth

Question 18

In explaining gender differences in delinquent behavior, strain theory:

A) is not useful
B) can help explain these differences
C) is not supported by research in this area
D) none of the above

Question 19

In response to strain, it appears that females are more likely than males to:

A) adopt legitimate, nondelinquent coping responses
B) adopt delinquent coping responses
C) avoid strain
D) not experience strain

Question 20

According to strain theorists, the high rate of male offending is due, in part, to the fact that:

A) males are more likely than females to experience stressors that are especially conducive to offending
B) males are more likely than females to deal with strain by resorting to delinquent coping strategies
C) all of the above
D) none of the above

Question 21

Describe the first modern version of strain theory presented by Robert K. Merton in 1938.

Question 22

List and provide an example of the two major categories of strain.

Question 23

Use strain theory to describe how the desire for "masculine status" might lead to delinquency. Would a desire for "feminine status" be as likely to lead to delinquency? Why or why not?

Question 24

Use strain theory to describe how the denial of autonomy in school might lead to delinquency.

Question 25

Using strain theory, describe how a juvenile who experiences physical abuse at home might adapt to or cope with that abuse. In your answer, identify and describe the three coping strategies discussed in the text and provide an example for each.

Question 26

How might strain theory explain the greater involvement of juveniles versus adults in crime? In your answer, provide arguments that address the types of strain, coping strategies, and conditioning variables.

Question 27

How might strain theory explain the greater involvement of males in delinquency?

Question 28

Why do some adolescents who experience strain not engage in delinquency? Describe factors that influence whether juveniles will respond to strain with delinquency.

Question 29

What recommendations might a strain theorist make for controlling or preventing delinquency?

Question 30

Discuss community interventions that might reduce strain and/or help youth cope legally with strain. For example, would community centers or YMCAs in high-poverty areas reduce strain or help juveniles cope with strain? What interventions might do so?

Question 31

Strain theorists argue that the inability of adolescents to achieve certain goals contributes to much delinquency. List and describe the four goals discussed in the textbook and provide an example of each of the four goals. What is goal blockage, and when does this occur?

Question 32

There is reason to believe that concern with one's manhood or masculine status is not limited to African American males, although African American males and lower-class males may have more trouble "accomplishing masculinity" through legal channels. Why would these individuals have trouble "accomplishing masculinity"? What alternatives do these individuals have for achieving masculinity if it cannot be accomplished through legal channels?

Question 33

As described by Agnew and Brezina, delinquency has been linked to eight different types of negative treatment. List and describe four of these types of negative treatment and provide examples of each.

Question 34

List delinquent and nondelinquent strategies for emotional coping and behavioral coping.

Question 35

How can strain theory explain adolescents' use of drugs and alcohol? Provide evidence discussed by Agnew and Brezina to help support your argument.

Question 36

How does strain theory explain delinquency that occurs in response to the need for thrills and excitement?

Question 37

Using strain theory, explain why males have a higher rate of offending than females.

Question 38

Can the high rate of male offending be explained in terms of gender differences in the overall level of stress or strain? Explain why or why not.

Question 39

Are there any gender differences in emotions experienced in response to strain? Explain and provide examples.

Question 40

Provide a hypothetical scenario where a juvenile delinquent commits a crime of your choosing. Then, using terminology and concepts from the textbook, explain how strain theory relates to this hypothetical scenario.