Questions and Answers
Which of the following are Micro-Level Theories? (Select all that apply)
What is Rational Choice Theory?
It suggests that people weigh the costs and benefits of actions, advocating for swift, certain, and severe punishment.
What did Lombroso propose about criminals?
Lombroso proposed that criminals are physically different than non-criminals.
What is a key concept of Differential Association Theory?
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According to Differential Association, behavior is ultimately _____.
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What does Social Control Theory emphasize?
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Which of the following are types of strain in General Strain Theory?
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What is the focus of Macro-Level Theories?
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What does Merton's Strain Theory explain?
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Which of the following is a type of social disorganization according to the Centric Zone Model?
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What does the collective efficacy model entail?
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Determinism suggests that behavior is influenced by factors outside the individual's control.
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Study Notes
Micro-Level Theories
- Includes choice theories, biological/psychological theories, differential association, social control, and general strain.
Rational Choice Theory
- Developed by Beccaria and Bentham.
- Individuals assess costs and benefits before acting.
- Emphasizes the need for swift, certain, and severe punishment.
Biological/Psychological Theories
- Biological determinism: behavior influenced by biological factors.
- Environmental determinism: behavior influenced by environmental factors.
- Cesare Lombroso posited that criminals are physically distinct from noncriminals.
- William Sheldon proposed body types (somatotypes) are linked to behavior, particularly the mesomorphic type.
- Biosocial theories consider neurological deficits, diet, and hormones.
- Psychological theories, including Freudian perspectives, explore the mental processes influencing behavior.
Differential Association
- Formulated by Edwin Sutherland.
- Involves nine propositions focusing on learning behaviors and norms from group interactions.
- The process: associations lead to attitudes, which then shape behaviors.
- Akers' Social Learning Theory emphasizes rewards and punishments in the learning process.
Propositions of Differential Association
- Behavior is learned through communication and intimate groups.
- Learning includes techniques of committing acts and motivations.
- Definitions favorable to law violations can influence behavior.
- Variability exists in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity of associations.
- Mechanisms of learning parallel other learning processes.
- Behavior cannot be solely explained by general needs and values.
Social Control Theories
- Includes Hirschi's Social Bonds, Sampson and Laub's Life Course Theory, Moffitt's Life Course Theory, and Sykes and Matza's Techniques of Neutralization.
Hirschi's Social Control Theory
- Bonds of conformity prevent socially unacceptable behavior.
- Four elements of social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
Sampson and Laub's Life Course Theory
- Studies the entire lifespan and transitional phases such as marriage and employment.
Moffitt's Life Course Theory
- Differentiates between life-course persistent offenders and adolescence-limited offenders.
Techniques of Neutralization Model
- Developed by Matza and Sykes.
- Individuals rationalize delinquent behavior using five techniques:
- Denial of responsibility
- Denial of injury
- Denial of the victim
- Condemnation of the condemner
- Appeal to higher loyalties
General Strain Theory
- Formulated by Robert Agnew.
- Identifies three types of strain leading to criminal behavior:
- Failure to achieve valued goals
- Loss of positive stimuli
- Presentation of negative stimuli
- Proposes three coping strategies: behavioral (actions), cognitive (reinterpretation), and emotional (lessening emotions).
Macro-Level Theories
- Focus on the broader social structure and societal factors affecting behavior.
- Includes anomie theory and social disorganization theory.
Sociological Positivist Theories
- Utilize scientific methods for understanding behavior, emphasizing observation, measurement, and empirical verification.
Determinism
- The view that factors outside conscious control influence behavior and decision-making.
Anomie Theories
- Comprise Merton's Strain Theory, Differential Opportunity Theory, and Subcultural Theory of Delinquency.
Anomie Theory
- Proposed by Emile Durkheim, it examines how societal structures impact the ability to adhere to societal norms.
- Anomie refers to social instability stemming from a breakdown of norms and values.
Merton's Strain Theory
- Highlights conflict when individuals aspire to attain cultural goals but lack legitimate means.
- Concept of the American Dream is central.
- Adaptations to strain include conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Social Disorganization Theory
- Investigates variations in delinquency rates across neighborhoods and geographic regions.
Centric Zone Model
- Maps urban areas to assess social disorganization across five zones:
- Zone 1: Central Business District
- Zone 2: Transitional Zone (high delinquency)
- Zone 3: Working-Class Zone (multifamily housing)
- Zone 4: Residential Zone (single-family homes)
- Zone 5: Commuter Zone (suburbs, low density)
Social Disorganization and Delinquency Theory
- Developed by Shaw and McKay, it links high crime rates to neighborhood disorganization.
- Factors contributing to high crime include poverty, residential mobility, and racial diversity.
Sampson and Grove's Model of Social Disorganization
- Social disorganization leads to limited friendship networks, unsupervised peer groups, and low community participation.
Collective Efficacy Model
- Proposed by Sampson, Raudenbush, and Earls, it emphasizes social cohesion and the willingness of community members to intervene for the common good.
Social Disorganization and Reorganization
- Concepts include assimilation, invasion, conflict, and accommodation as components influencing community change.
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Description
Test your knowledge on micro and macro-level theories with these flashcards. This quiz covers various concepts, including choice theories, rational choice theory, and biological/psychological theories. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their understanding of these key sociological ideas.
