Sociology Labeling Theories Quiz

Societal Reaction Theory

• Focuses on how self-identity and behavior are influenced by how others categorize and describe the individual.
• Highlights the linguistic tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviants from societal norms.
• Associated with the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping.

Modern Labeling Theories

• Katz's Moral Seduction Theory: Crime is driven by situational emotional and sensual sensations, not just background variables. The book "Seductions of Crime" analyzes the seductions and compulsions that motivate criminal acts.

• Braithwaite's Reintegrative Shaming Theory: Two types of shaming: reintegrative (bringing the offender back into society) and disintegrative (shunning the offender). Reintegrative is achieved through societal rituals or gestures of forgiveness.

Social Class Theories

• Social Disorganization Theory (Shaw and McKay): Neighborhoods with high crime rates often share problems like dilapidation, poverty, and ethnic/cultural mixing. High crime rates are a consequence of these social conditions, not an individual failing.

• Anomie Theory (Durkheim): Anomie is a state of social normlessness. It's often linked to a general state of lawlessness. People prioritize their self-interest over group benefit.

• Theory of Differential Oppression (Hewitt and Regoli): Juvenile delinquency is viewed as a result of adult oppression of children within families. This oppression forces youth into socially defined roles, including the "delinquent role".

Control Theories

• Self-Derogation Theory (Kaplan): Individuals with low self-esteem or self-worth use self-critical or self-deprecating behavior to cope with perceived inadequacies. They may devalue themselves to protect their self-concept.

• Interactional Theory (Thornberry): Delinquency is connected to the weakening of a person’s bond with conventional society, especially attachments to their family and their achievement in approved social activities.

• Self-Control Theory: Crime arises from a lack of self-control, not from factors like poverty, anomie, or delinquent peers. The theory rejects that deviance is learned or economically motivated.

Theories of Female Offenders

• Feminist Theory: Examines how sex differences influence the treatment of women in crime and deviance. Crime is often interpreted through a male perspective, and female criminal behavior is often less scrutinized.

• Masculinity Theory (Freda Adler): Women who cannot adjust to lacking male characteristics will rebel against feminine roles, sometimes engaging in criminal behavior.

• Opportunity Theory (Rita Simon): Increased female access to opportunities in labor markets and social activities leads to an increased rate of female criminality. This is similar to male involvement.

• Economic Marginalization Theory (Daly and Chesney-Lind): Female crime results from economic insecurity, poverty, unemployment, low/insecure paying jobs, and family circumstances.

• Chivalry Theory: Historically, there have been lower rates of female criminality due to lenient treatment of female offenders by criminal justice personnel.

Other Theories of Crime

• Culture Deviance Theory: Delinquent acts are related to the formation of subcultures with values that clash with mainstream culture, often in disadvantaged settings.

• Theory of Subversion and Containment (Greenblatt): Crime control is achieved through manipulating doubts and beliefs. "Subversion" and "Containment" are used to create and control this doubt.

• Outer Containment: Community socialization with application of social norms and rules

• Inner Containment: Controlling the self with a favorable self-concept, frustration tolerance, and ability to follow norms.

• Rational Choice Theory: Individuals weigh the costs and benefits of actions to maximize personal gain or utility.

• Routine Activities Theory (Cohen and Felson): Combines the roles of offender and victim in criminal activities. Criminal opportunity is dependent on the victim’s lifestyle and behavior. Crimes happen when a motivated offender, suitable target and lack of capable guardian exists.

• Strain Theory: Societal pressures contribute to deviant behavior when individuals cannot achieve culturally approved goals through legitimate means.

. Merton's Modes of Adaptation: Different ways to respond to strain, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

• Social Contract Theory: People agree to give up certain freedoms (or rights) to be protected from others, or to have societal order via a governing authority

• Differential Identification Theory (Glaser): Individuals identify themselves with real or imagined persons, leading to criminal behavior if such persons are criminal. Imitation of criminal behavior is a significant factor.

• Imitation and Suggestion Theory (Gabriel Tarde): Behavioral and social trends spread through imitation and social suggestion.

• Conflict of Culture Theory (Thorsten Sellin): High crime and delinquency are associated with differing cultural standards in a heterogeneous society.

• Containment Theory (Walter Reckless): Focuses on preventing criminal behavior. Internal factors (self-control, values, responsibility) and external factors (social institutions, laws) control criminal behavior..

• Cultural Transmission Theory (Shaw and McKay): Societal norms and values are passed through generations, leading to delinquency in areas with high poverty and social disorganization.

• Gang Theory (Thrasher): Focuses on gang awareness, tradition, solidarity, cooperation, esprit de corps, turf, and unreflectiveness.

• Concentric Zone Theory: Explores how urban areas develop and expand, showing patterns of social and economic stratification.

Test your knowledge on societal reaction and modern labeling theories in sociology. Explore key concepts such as Katz's Moral Seduction Theory and Braithwaite's Reintegrative Shaming Theory. Understand how societal perceptions and class theories influence behavior and identity.