REVIEW GUIDE 1.1

The exam is multiple choice and true-false, with questions 2 points apiece.

What is the basic legal definition of crime? What are the sociological definitions of crime covered in class (Sellin, Sutherland, Schwendingers)? How do sociological definitions differ from the legal one? How do sociologists justify defining crime independently of the criminal law? Know the perspectives analogous social injury/harm, violation of conduct norms, etc.

What was the Inquisition and who were its targets? Why were these groups targeted? What did authorities believe about the world that explained deviance and justified torture and punishment? What sociological lessons can we learn from studying the Inquisition?

What does the classical school of crime and punishment say about the causes of deviance? What is the vision of human nature from this perspective? What does this perspective focus on? Who was Cesare Beccaria and what did he argue? What was the effect of this work? What did he recommend to control crime? Who is Jeremy Bentham? What is a “panopticon”? What is the legacy of the classical school of crime and punishment?

According to Foucault, in the classical view of deviance, the “hedonistic psychology of deviance,” what is the source of criminal behavior? Of all the enlightenment thinkers, who was, according to Foucault, the person most influential in development of the classical perspective?

What is biocriminology? Who was Cesare Lombroso? What technique did he use? Know the terms he used, such as atavism. What marks a criminal? How does his theory differ from Goddard? Healy? Hooton? Goring? Be able to discuss some of the modern biological theories, such as Rushton, Herrnstein, Sheldon, etc. How are the new theories different from the earlier ones? How are they similar? What adjustments have proponents made over time to save the biocriminological project? What is the substance of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s elegant critique of hereditary theories of criminality?

What are the major concepts/components around which Freud builds his psychodynamic control theory? What is the Id? Ego? Superego? What is his conception of human nature? What does the theory reveal about deviant/criminal behavior? Has Freudian theory been supported by research? It is a testable theory? Is it logically valid?

According to Stephen Pfohl, what are the weaknesses of the pathological approach to understanding/explaining deviance?

What are the elements and propositions in Shaw and McKay’s theory? What is the methodology? What is concentric zone theory? Be able to name the zones. What is the main conclusion? What is the scientific adequacy of Shaw and McKay’s explanation? What are its theoretical problems? What are its methodological problems? What questions does the theory leave unanswered?

Durkheim claimed that there are moments of normlessness in social systems where social regulation is dramatically decreased or absent. What did he call these moments? Know terms: mechanical solidary, organic solidary, mala in se, mala prohibita, moral order, division of labor. Why does Durkheim claim that crime/deviance is normal? According to Stephen Pfohl, what are the weaknesses of the functionalist approach to crime and deviance? Know the terms “teleology” and “tautology.”

What are the assumptions of strain (anomie) theory? What are the features of Merton’s anomie theory? Know the typology and be prepared to explain it. What role does the American Dream play in causing crime? What does Albert Cohen argue? How does he modify Merton’s approach? What are the propositions? Know the adaptations: corner-boy, college-boy, and delinquent subculture. What do Cloward and Ohlin argue about blocked opportunities? Know the propositions. Know the types of gangs: criminal, conflict, and retreatist. Be able to compare versions of strain/anomie theory. In what ways do these differ on the nature and functions of delinquent subcultures?

According to Stephen Pfohl, what are the weaknesses of the anomie/strain approach to crime and deviance?

Know Walter Miller’s theory of focal concerns and lower-class culture. Why do lower-class boys become delinquent? What role do female-headed households, identity crisis, and gangs play in delinquency and crime? How much of society is influenced by lower-class culture? What is the main problem with Miller’s theory?

Shaw and McKay and Walter Miller’s theories are often referred to as “cultural deviance” theories. Be able to state the propositions of each theory and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. How do the two perspectives differ regarding gang behavior in the lower class?

What are, according to Stephen Pfohl, the weaknesses of the social disorganization perspective of crime and deviance?

What did Reckless argue in his containment theory? What are the basic assumptions of Hirschi’s control theory? Why does Hirschi say that criminologists have been studying the wrong thing? Which groups, according to Hirschi, will exhibit the greatest levels of deviance? What are the key elements that prevent delinquency? What was Markovic's warning? Be prepared to compare Freud’s psychodynamic theory to Hirschi’s control theory. What are the major assumptions of both theories? How are they alike? How do they differ? How do they differ in terms of scientific adequacy? Be prepared to compare control theory to social disorganization theory.