Question 1

The social control theorist who brought most attention to the role of self-concept in delinquency was:

Accepted Answer

A)   Travis Hirschi
B)   Albert Reiss
C)   Walter Reckless
D)   David Matza
E)   Michael Gottfredson

Question 2

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory posits that differences in self-control account for the stable differences between individuals in their propensity to commit most major crimes, but not less serious petty offenses, across all circumstances.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Individual items such as risk-taking tendencies or impulsivity predict offending better than does the overall scale that contains several items of self-control.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Research indicates that, compared with relationships of law-abiding youths, relationships of delinquent youths with others tend to be distant, cold, and unstable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Hirschi's most recent revision of the concept of self-control now defines it as the same as social bonds and characterizes it as the ability to take into account all the long-term and short-term consequences of behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Most of the research evidence on Hirschi's social bonding theory:

Accepted Answer

A)   provides weak to moderate support for the theory
B)   provides better support for hypotheses on beliefs and commitments than for attachment
C)   supports the hypothesis that delinquency is related to low religiosity
D)   supports the hypothesis that school achievement is negatively related to delinquency
E)   all of the above

Question 7

Social control theorists:

Accepted Answer

A)   argue that crime is a "normal" act within the context of a deviant subculture
B)   suggest that we are all motivated to commit crime
C)   tend to focus on barriers that prevent individuals from acting on the temptation to violate the law
D)   view crime as a product of frustration among disadvantaged segments of the social structure
E)   b and c

Question 8

"Belief," as Hirschi uses the term, refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)   the strength of endorsement of general conventional values and norms
B)   the strength of one's religious or spiritual values
C)   the strength of one's support for particular laws
D)   the strength of an individual's belief in the trustworthiness of his/her fellows
E)   the strength of an individual's belief that others perceive him/her to be trustworthy

Question 9

Explain the concepts of "neutralization" and "drift," and discuss their significance for crime and delinquency.

Accepted Answer

Neutralization refers to the process by ...

Question 10

Discuss techniques of neutralization. Explain whether techniques of neutralization explain why people commit crime.

Accepted Answer

Techniques of neutralization are a set of methods used by individuals to rationalize or justify their deviant behavior. These techniques were first proposed by Sykes and Matza in 1957 and include denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners, and appeal to higher loyalties.

Denial of responsibility involves shifting the blame for the deviant behavior onto external factors, such as peer pressure or societal influences. Denial of injury minimizes the harm caused by the deviant behavior, while denial of the victim suggests that the victim deserved the deviant act. Condemnation of the condemners involves criticizing those who disapprove of the deviant behavior, and appeal to higher loyalties involves justifying the deviant behavior as necessary for a greater cause or loyalty.

These techniques of neutralization can help explain why people commit crime. When individuals use these techniques to rationalize their behavior, it allows them to temporarily suspend their moral and ethical beliefs, making it easier for them to engage in criminal activities. By using these techniques, individuals can justify their actions to themselves and others, reducing feelings of guilt or shame associated with their behavior.

However, it is important to note that the use of techniques of neutralization is not a sole determinant of criminal behavior. Other factors, such as social and economic circumstances, psychological factors, and individual differences, also play a role in why people commit crime. Nevertheless, techniques of neutralization provide insight into the cognitive processes that individuals use to justify their deviant behavior.

Question 11

The earlier control theories, such as Reckless's containment theory, included both internal and external controls.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

A major weakness in Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime is that it may be tautological because they do not clearly define self-control as distinct from the propensity to commit crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In social bonding theory, delinquency is controlled by beliefs that specific delinquent acts are wrong rather than by general law-abiding beliefs held by adolescents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 14

From Hirschi's perspective, the concept that best fits the college student who has avoided delinquent involvement by doing well in school and working toward a promising career is:

Accepted Answer

A)   commitment
B)   involvement
C)   ambition
D)   belief
E)   attachment

Question 15

Nye's control theory includes both barriers to delinquency and positive inducements to delinquency.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In contrast to other theories, control theories emphasize restraints on crime over motivations or inducements to crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self?control theory posits that differences in self?control account for the stable differences between individuals in their criminal propensity, but they contend that the theory is not intended to explain less serious offenses or what they call "analogous behavior."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Hirschi's theory suggests that people become criminal because they develop close ties to other people who condone or encourage the commission of crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Tests of social bonding theory provide weak to moderate support for the theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 20

Matza's "drift theory" proposes that only neutralizations are needed for adolescents to drift toward delinquency and that positive causes are not needed for adolescents to choose delinquent rather than lawful behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 6: Social Bonding and Control Theories

The social control theorist who brought most attention to the role of self-concept in delinquency was:

Correct Answer
verified

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory posits that differences in self-control account for the stable differences between individuals in their propensity to commit most major crimes, but not less serious petty offenses, across all circumstances.

Correct Answer
verified

Individual items such as risk-taking tendencies or impulsivity predict offending better than does the overall scale that contains several items of self-control.

Correct Answer
verified

Research indicates that, compared with relationships of law-abiding youths, relationships of delinquent youths with others tend to be distant, cold, and unstable.

Correct Answer
verified

Hirschi's most recent revision of the concept of self-control now defines it as the same as social bonds and characterizes it as the ability to take into account all the long-term and short-term consequences of behavior.

Correct Answer
verified

Most of the research evidence on Hirschi's social bonding theory:

Correct Answer
verified

Social control theorists:

Correct Answer
verified

"Belief," as Hirschi uses the term, refers to:

Correct Answer
verified

Explain the concepts of "neutralization" and "drift," and discuss their significance for crime and delinquency.

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Neutralization refers to the process by ...
View Answer

Discuss techniques of neutralization. Explain whether techniques of neutralization explain why people commit crime.

The earlier control theories, such as Reckless's containment theory, included both internal and external controls.

Correct Answer
verified

A major weakness in Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime is that it may be tautological because they do not clearly define self-control as distinct from the propensity to commit crime.

Correct Answer
verified

In social bonding theory, delinquency is controlled by beliefs that specific delinquent acts are wrong rather than by general law-abiding beliefs held by adolescents.

Correct Answer
verified
False

From Hirschi's perspective, the concept that best fits the college student who has avoided delinquent involvement by doing well in school and working toward a promising career is:

Correct Answer
verified

Nye's control theory includes both barriers to delinquency and positive inducements to delinquency.

Correct Answer
verified

In contrast to other theories, control theories emphasize restraints on crime over motivations or inducements to crime.

Correct Answer
verified

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self?control theory posits that differences in self?control account for the stable differences between individuals in their criminal propensity, but they contend that the theory is not intended to explain less serious offenses or what they call "analogous behavior."

Correct Answer
verified

Hirschi's theory suggests that people become criminal because they develop close ties to other people who condone or encourage the commission of crime.

Correct Answer
verified

Tests of social bonding theory provide weak to moderate support for the theory.

Correct Answer
verified
True

Matza's "drift theory" proposes that only neutralizations are needed for adolescents to drift toward delinquency and that positive causes are not needed for adolescents to choose delinquent rather than lawful behavior.

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 6: Social Bonding and Control Theories

The social control theorist who brought most attention to the role of self-concept in delinquency was:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory posits that differences in self-control account for the stable differences between individuals in their propensity to commit most major crimes, but not less serious petty offenses, across all circumstances.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Individual items such as risk-taking tendencies or impulsivity predict offending better than does the overall scale that contains several items of self-control.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Research indicates that, compared with relationships of law-abiding youths, relationships of delinquent youths with others tend to be distant, cold, and unstable.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Hirschi's most recent revision of the concept of self-control now defines it as the same as social bonds and characterizes it as the ability to take into account all the long-term and short-term consequences of behavior.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most of the research evidence on Hirschi's social bonding theory:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Social control theorists:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

"Belief," as Hirschi uses the term, refers to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Explain the concepts of "neutralization" and "drift," and discuss their significance for crime and delinquency.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AINeutralization refers to the process by ...View AnswerShow Answer

Discuss techniques of neutralization. Explain whether techniques of neutralization explain why people commit crime.

The earlier control theories, such as Reckless's containment theory, included both internal and external controls.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A major weakness in Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime is that it may be tautological because they do not clearly define self-control as distinct from the propensity to commit crime.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In social bonding theory, delinquency is controlled by beliefs that specific delinquent acts are wrong rather than by general law-abiding beliefs held by adolescents.

Correct AnswerverifiedFalse

From Hirschi's perspective, the concept that best fits the college student who has avoided delinquent involvement by doing well in school and working toward a promising career is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Nye's control theory includes both barriers to delinquency and positive inducements to delinquency.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In contrast to other theories, control theories emphasize restraints on crime over motivations or inducements to crime.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self?control theory posits that differences in self?control account for the stable differences between individuals in their criminal propensity, but they contend that the theory is not intended to explain less serious offenses or what they call "analogous behavior."

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Hirschi's theory suggests that people become criminal because they develop close ties to other people who condone or encourage the commission of crime.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Tests of social bonding theory provide weak to moderate support for the theory.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

Matza's "drift theory" proposes that only neutralizations are needed for adolescents to drift toward delinquency and that positive causes are not needed for adolescents to choose delinquent rather than lawful behavior.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
Answered by ExamLex AI
Neutralization refers to the process by ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
False

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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True

Correct Answer
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