Study Guide Sociology 2306 1st Exam

I. Theories and theorists. Be familiar with the central arguments and key concepts and theorists in the following theoretical traditions: Deterrence theory (Beccaria); Control theory(Hirschi; application by Sherman and Berk), Routine Activities Theory(Felson); Social Disorganization theory(Thomas and Znaniecki, Thrasher, Wilson; application by Sampson), Functionalist theory(Durkheim; application by Erikson), Anomie theory(Merton), Differential association(Sutherland), Differential opportunity theory(Cloward), Labeling theory( Becker, Lemert),

II. Videos: Be familiar with these aspects of the following videos: "Scared Straight" (main features of the Rahway Lifers program and the way it was presented to the American public; subsequent evaluation research); "What Can We Do About Violence, parts I" (Programs of rehabilitation at the Ventura School and the Last Chance Ranch);"Generations of Violence," (patterns of family violence, intervention programs including 12-step programs such as Parents Anonymous); "What Can We Do About Violence, part III? (the activities of Reverend Eugene Rivera and the Azuza Christian community in inner-city Boston).

III. Major themes. Be familiar with Currie's perspective and with materials from lecture regarding the following:

A. Trends with American crime rates (especially violent crime) and controversies regarding their interpretation.

B. America as an imprisonment society: causes and consequences, growth and consequences of women's imprisonment; increasing numbers of kids referred to the adult system; impact on minorities; prison myths.

C. Priorities for prevention and selected research supporting each priority:

1. Preventing child abuse and neglect: the Elmira program.

2. Expand early intervention for children at risk of impaired cognitive development: the Perry pre-school program.

3. Providing support and guidance to vulnerable adolescents: the Quantum Opportunity Program.

4. Working intensively with juvenile offenders: Multisystemic theory (MST) and its tests in South Carolina and Missouri.

D. The case for social action, beginning with Currie's argument that American rates of violence crime cannot be viewed as side effects of democracy, freedom, or prosperity; the Luxemburg Income Study (LIS) and its findings; international correlates of violence; the effects of concentrated poverty within neighborhoods and of extreme poverty and long-term joblessness within families.

1. Living wage vs. low-wage work.
2. Spreading work.
3. Public job creation.
4. Improved (universal) services in the areas of child care and health care.