CJ4340 – Exam 2 Review Guide

A series of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts and theories related to crime and delinquency discussed in CJ4340 course notes.

Hirschi's Social Bonding Theory

A theory that focuses on why people do not commit crime, emphasizing bonds to society (attachment, commitment, involvement, belief) as crime preventers.

Sutherland's Differential Association Theory

A learning theory suggesting that crime is learned through interactions with others, where techniques and attitudes favorable to law violation are transmitted.

Cohen's Strain Theory

A theory that suggests lower-class boys experience strain and status frustration due to middle-class academic standards, leading to delinquency.

Agnew's General Strain Theory

An extension of strain theory that identifies three types of strain: failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, and exposure to negative stimuli.

Social Disorganization Theory

A theory by Shaw and McKay that explains crime as a result of neighborhood disorganization due to factors like poverty and residential mobility.

Self-Control Theory

A theory positing that low self-control is a stable trait caused by poor parenting, leading to increased likelihood of committing crime.

Institutional Anomie Theory

A theory claiming that the dominance of economic success in American society undermines the authority of other institutions, creating social disorganization.

Zone of Transition

A geographic area identified by Shaw and McKay that experiences high delinquency rates due to factors such as poverty and residential mobility.

Delinquent Subculture

A subculture formed as a collective response to strain, as theorized by Cohen, particularly prevalent among lower-class youth.

Circular Reasoning Problem

A logical issue in a theory where conclusions are used as premises without independent verification, applicable in Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory.

Collective Efficacy

A concept introduced by Sampson indicating the willingness of residents in a community to intervene for the common good as a determinant of neighborhood crime rates.

Negative Emotions in Crime

In Agnew's theory, these emotions (anger, frustration, etc.) are direct psychological mechanisms linking strain to criminal behavior.

Policy Implication of Social Bonding Theory

Strategies to strengthen bonds to conventional society, such as mentorship programs and community involvement to reduce delinquency.

Illegitimate Opportunity Structures

Concept introduced by Cloward and Ohlin, indicating that not everyone has equal access to both legitimate and illegal means of achieving goals.

Strain and Crime Connection

The relationship between blocked goals and negative emotional responses leading to delinquency, as emphasized in both Cohen's and Agnew's theories.

Akers' Social Learning Theory

A theory that elaborates on how criminal behavior is learned through social interactions, emphasizing reinforcement and punishment mechanisms.