Exam 6: Social Structural Theories

According to Merton, proscribed behavior becomes increasingly rare when the emphasis on the culturally induced success-goal becomes divorced from a coordinate institutional emphasis.

Discuss Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory.Do disorganized neighborhoods "cause" crime or are they run down because people with personal characteristics conducive to both crime and poverty populate them? Support your answer.

Identify three of the lower-class focal concerns proposed by Walter Miller.

How does Sanchez-Jankowski define "structure"?

Discuss what influences collective efficacy.Can collective efficacy be measured reliably at the neighborhood level? Support your answer.

According to Shaw and McKay, residential instability referred to

According to general strain theory, we all experience multiple strains throughout our lives, but the impact of strain differs according to its magnitude, recency, duration, and clustering.

______ is characteristic of modern societies in which there is a high degree of occupational specialization.

A particular student wants to do well in school, but never seems to be able to earn higher than a D.In pursuit of academic success, the student begins to cheat on exams.This is most consistent with which form of adaptation in Merton's theory of strain?

Identify and explain each of Walter Miller's six focal concerns.Provide an example of each.

Identify and explain the sources of strain according to Robert Agnew's general strain theory.How do negative emotionality and constraint relate to strain according to Agnew?

Within Walter Miller's framework of focal concerns, ______ refers to the belief that the locus of control is external to oneself.

Compare and contrast the variables of social disorganization theory in regards to rural and urban communities.

According to the tenets of institutional anomie theory, which of the following would be a useful policy goal?

The first criminological theory to be developed in the United States was the human ecology theory, which came out of what was known as the ______ school.

According to strain theory, individuals who accept traditional goals, but reject the accepted means of achieving them, are known as rebels.

Which term did Emile Durkheim coin to refer to normlessness, or a lack of rules, within society?

Define social disorganization according to Osgood and Chambers.

Retreatist gang members are more escapist in their attitudes than conflict gang members in that almost all of the abuse drugs and/or alcohol.

According to Merton's strain theory, a youth who responds to difficulties in school by ______ has engaged in conformity.