CRIM 2025: CRIMINOLOGY

]\

 

 

 

CRIM 2025: CRIMINOLOGY

EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE

 

Below you will find three (3) short answer (SA) questions to help prep you for your exam. Exam 3 will comprise of only three (3) questions; you will be expected to answer only one of the three SA questions for each chapter. The caveat; these questions will be selected at randomly, thus you must be prepared to answer all three from each chapter. Remember that Exam 2 will only cover Chapters 8 through 10. Each exam question is worth 33.3/4 points.

 

CHAPTER 8: SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES OF CRIME, I –

EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND STRAIN MODELS OF CRIME

 

1. Chapter 8 introduces us to strain models of crime and what happens when we don’t achieve our cultural (or conventional) goals. Make sure the question in full with at least 3 to 5 sentences for each portion of the question.

a. First, summarize Emilé Durkheim’s concept of “anomie.” (16.7 points)

b. Next, summarize Robert K. Merton’s version of anomie and explain how it differs from Durkheim’s. (16.7 points)

 

2. What are the adaptations to strain Merton proposed? Explain the five (5) different adaptations to strain and give an example of each. If you completed Interactivity 8, you CANNOT use the same example as you did before. Explanations/examples of Merton’s adaptation are worth 6.66 points each.

 

3. What strengths and weaknesses do you see in strain models of crime? Provide examples based on critiques of these types of theories. Make sure you discuss strengths in at least 3 to 5 sentences (16.7 points), as well as the weaknesses of strain models in at least 3 to 5 sentences (16.7 points).

 

 

CHAPTER 9: SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES OF CRIME, II –

SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION AND CULTURAL/SUBCULTURE THEORIES

1. How did Park and Burgess view the growth of the inner city?

a. First, discuss the concept of radial growth and how it works. (Hint: You may need to discuss some of Park’s earlier ecological principles). (11.1 points)

b. Next, briefly discuss the five natural areas or “zones” of a city. (11.1 points)

c. Finally, discuss which zone has the highest rates of crime and why. (11.1 points)

 

 

 

2. Discuss Shaw and McKay’s Theory of Social Disorganization.

a. First, what are the propositions of this theory? What societal factors does it consider? (Hint: Refer to the visual model provided in Chapter 9 and discuss at least four factors). (16.65 points)

b. Next, what advancements did Shaw and McKay make to criminological theory? Why do we still utilize social disorganization theory today? (16.65 points)

 

3. Discuss the cultural context of Chicago and the development of social structure theories:

a. First, discuss why Chicago was chosen as the area for the development of social structure theories. (11.1 points)

b. What was going on in this city in the mid-to-late-1800s? (11.1 points)

c. Who ran the town, and what did this lead to? (Hint: Be sure to relate your answer to concepts raised by Durkheim, Merton, and other sociologists of the time). (11.1 points)

 

CHAPTER 10: SOCIAL PROCESS AND CONTROL THEORIES OF CRIME

1. Learning criminality is likened to learning everyday activities. Give an example of an everyday activity learned from others as criminality is learned. To answer this question:

· First, provide an example of a criminal activity. Take your pick! (11.1 points)

· Next, identify how learning criminality is similar to learning everyday activity (Which theorist discussed this? What are their propositions?) (11.1 points)

· Finally, provide an example of an everyday activity that is learned and briefly explain how the steps involved in learning this activity are similar to the learning of the criminal activity example you picked. (11.1 points)

 

2. Apply Sykes and Matza’s five techniques of neutralization to a crime example of your choice. Based on the criminal activity you chose, describe the five different ways an offender may try to neutralize their behavior. (33.3 points)

 

3. Discuss low self-control theory by Gottfredson and Hirschi.

a. First, what are the propositions of this theory? (11.1 points)

b. What advancements did they make to criminological theory? (11.1 points)