REVIEW QUESTIONS
EXAM #2

Sociological Theories of Deviance

Sociology 3305

UMD

  1. Compare and contrast Durkheim's, Merton's, and Cloward's elaborations of Anomie theory.
  2. Discuss the important additions made to Anomie theory when combined with Differential Association theory.
  3. How does the notion of techniques of neutralization contribute to Differential Association theory?
  4. Compare the policy implications derived from Anomie theory, Differential Association theory, control theory and labeling theory.
  5. Each theory has a particular understanding of what produces crime in society. Discuss what those causes are for Anomie, Control, and Differential Association theories.
  6. What is meant by, Differential Association's use of frequency, duration, priority, and intensity?
  7. Compare the major concepts of Hirschi's version of control theory with Nye's theory. Explain and provide examples of those concepts.
  8. Explain how the Societal Reaction theory contributes to our understanding of deviant behavior?
  9. Why would Labeling Theories such as Lemert and Becker say Labeling Theory has gotten too deterministic and should be discarded in favor of pure Symbolic Interaction Theory?
  10. What are the similarities and differences between Differential Association and Labeling theory?
  11. Explain the process referred to as "the dramatization of evil." How does Lemert's conception of primary and secondary deviance contribute to this conception?
  12. What is the difference between Lemert's conception of secondary deviance and Becker's notion of Career deviance?
  13. What are the basic assumptions behind control theory? How does social control theory approach the study of crime differently than most other approaches?
  14. Which of the approaches in this section do you find most appealing? What is it about that approach that strikes you as useful in explaining crime, delinquency, and/or deviance?
  15. Explain Sykes and Matza's concept of drift. How does drift work in combination with neutralization to produce delinquency?
  16. What are the criticisms of neutralization theory?
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