Study Guide for the Third Test

Define the science of sociology. Substantial reductions in the absolute levels of poverty increase crime--true of false? Would a decrease in the unemployment rate effect the level of crime? How does invasion-domination-succession influence crime rates? What three general findings by Shaw and McKay informed more contemporary theories on crime causation? What is the heart of social disorganization theory? What is the ecological fallacy? What are the four factors associated with defensible space? Describe routine activities theory including its four dimensions. According to routine activities theory, would high rates of employment increase or decrease the crime rate? Does Sampson and Groves' work support or discount social disorganization theory? Is environmental design the solution to our crime problem? Does the evidence support routine activities theory? What theory did Sutherland create? What is the principle assertion of differential association? How would differential association theory explain a teenager who apparently all of a sudden starts to use drugs? Is operant conditioning part of differential association theories? What are the four major criticisms of differential association? Describe Aker's social learning theory. What are the four major shortcomings of the social learning theory? Does the empirical data support Aker's social learning theory? Discuss the central propositions of the differential association theory. How does someone justify pirating cable TV or not paying for long distance phone calls?

Chapter 5 Culture and Crime

Define and give examples of culture, subculture, primary cultural conflict , secondary cultural conflict, and the social structure. What are three sources for primary cultural conflict? Give and explain an example of secondary cultural conflict. According to Albert Cohen, why do boys join gangs and engage in criminal behavior? What does he mean when he argues that the above process is a "reaction formation?" Why does Short disagree with Cohen? How does Miller's theory differ from Cohen's? Describe each of the focal concerns associated with Miller's theory. Describe Matza's theory of delinquency and drift. According to Wolfgang why do arguments over small things end up with a murder being committed? If there is a subculture of violence that is transmitted from one generation to the next, how can it broken up? According to Curtis and Anderson, what causes the heightened sense of manliness among lower class Afro-Americans? Why supposedly is there higher rates of homicide in the South than in the Midwest? Thoroughly assess the subcultural theories on violence. Is prison a realistic deterrent for lower class youth? Describe how the transformation from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity produces higher rates of criminal behavior. What are four ways that crime, according to the functionalists, can create stability? What is anomie? Describe Merton's strain theory and the different forms of adaptation. How does Cloward and Ohlin add to Merton's theory of crime? What kind of juvenile is most likely to engage in serious crimes---drugs? Thoroughly assess strain theory. How does Agnew's version of strain theory differ from Merton's? According to Agnew, what are the four factors that predispose a youth to commit crime? What is the best measure of strain at the meso-level? Which theory assumes that people if let to their own devices would engage in criminal behavior? Not everyone who experiences poverty and discrimination engage in crime--why? Describe containment theory. Define social bond. Describe the four elements of Hirschi's control theory. Discuss Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime? Is it different from the classical school of criminology? How do these fellows want you to raise your children? Describe the problems associated with social control theory. What six characteristics do people with low self control exhibit?