CJUS 2340 Criminology Theory part-1
Which behaviors is considered delinquent in all states?
A 13-year-old running away from home Young people (under the age of 18, 17, or 16, depending on jurisdiction) running away from home is considered a delinquent action in all states.
George is examining the relationship between violent video games and violent behavior and states that banning the sale of violent video games to minors will reduce violent criminal behavior by juveniles. In which stage of the theory-building process is George most likely to make this statement?
A theory-based hypothesis develops. During this stage of the theory-building process, the researcher proposes a hypothesis that tentatively explains observed facts.
Which of the following statements would a sociobiologist most likely consider to be true?
All human behavior, even rational thought, results from instinctual aspects of biology.
Karina has run up large credit card bills that she cannot pay. She works in a local bakery and steals money from the cash register to help pay down her debts. Karina has adopted which form of adaptation?
Alloplastic adaptation
Which of the following is an assumption of psychological and psychiatric theories of crime causation?
Although society may disapprove of criminal behavior, it may be purposeful for the individual insofar as it addresses certain felt needs.
________ is defined as any human activity that violates social norms.
Deviant behavior Deviant behavior is human activity that violates social norms.
Which of the following statements is more likely to be made by a contemporary biological theorist, rather than an early biological theorist?
Diet can affect human behavior.
Which event in the late 1950s contributed to the beginning of a steady increase in the crime rate?
Dollar limits were removed from larceny statutes. This occurred in 1958.
_____ theory holds that although frustration can lead to various forms of behavior, direct aggression toward others is the most likely consequence.
Dollard's frustration-aggression
Which of the following is true of the era of criminology that John Laub referred to as the Golden Age of Theory?
During this period, there was no systematic attempt to link criminological research to theories of crime. Laub called the second era of criminology, the period from 1930 to 1960, the "Golden Age of Theory" and described it as a time when intellectual theorizing dominated the scene, but stated that there was no systematic attempt to link criminological research to theory.
Which of the following is most likely to predict antisocial and criminal behavior?
Early antisocial behavior
Which scenario best illustrates Gabriel Tarde's first law of imitation and suggestion?
Ellie dresses just like her best friend, Cindy.
Which of the following factors that may affect criminal behavior is more likely to be studied by a contemporary biological theorist rather than an early biological theorist?
Environmental contaminants
Which theory has been criticized for its lack of scientific support and for not being based on research?
Freudian theory
Jason and Sam are twins. Their mother is a drug addict who physically abused and neglected Jason while treating Sam more lovingly. When they grow up, Sam becomes a pharmacist while Jason becomes involved in professional mixed martial arts (MMA) Which of the following concepts best explains Jason's choice of career?
Frustration-aggression theory
Ivan hypothesizes that criminality is a trait passed from one generation to the next. In order to determine if the hypothesis is true, Ivan would examine which part of human DNA?
Genes
According to Lee Ellis and Anthony Walsh, how do genes affect criminal behavior?
Genes affect brain functioning in ways that affect the likelihood of involvement in criminal behavior.
George and Julio are invited out to dinner at an expensive restaurant. Although the environment is quiet and subdued, they laugh and talk loudly all during dinner. Which of the following statements best applies to their behavior?
George and Julio are violating a folkway.
Official statistics show a decrease in crime over the past two decades. Which of the following statements relating to this decrease is most likely to be made by advocates of modern neoclassical approaches to crime control who are trying to take credit for the decline?
Get tough on crime policies have led to a substantial decrease in official rates of crime over the past 20 years.
What was Konrad Lorenz's greatest contribution to the study of human behavior?
His claim that all human behavior is to some extent "adapted instinctive behavior"
Which early psychological theory built on the area of cognitive science, including personality disturbances, the process of moral development, and diseases of the mind?
Personality theory
Which of the following studies involves epigenetics?
Rebecca studies how environmental conditions can affect the activity of specific parts of the genome.
Which of the following is an example of a crime?
Ryan drives 15 MPH over the speed limit on a busy highway. Speeding on interstate highways, for example, although probably something that most motorists engage in at least from time to time, is illegal; but most people who engage in such behavior probably don't think of themselves as "deviant" or "criminal."
According to C. Ray Jeffery, twentieth-century criminology was based on which other discipline?
Sociology
Which goal of criminal sentencing seeks to prevent a particular offender from committing another crime in the future?
Specific deterrence
A physician conducts a number of medical tests on a child and then calls the police, stating that she suspects the child has been abused. Why would she think this?
The child's corpus callosum was smaller than normal.
Which of the following early sources of criminal law included unwritten legal precedents that help guide judicial decision making?
The common law
Which of the following concerns regarding the use of the insanity defense is true?
The court is likely to send defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity to an institution for psychiatric treatment.
Despite research evidence suggesting that capital punishment does not deter offenders from committing homicide, many death penalty advocates continue to argue that capital punishment can be an effective deterrent. Which of the following statements best supports their claim?
The current system of criminal justice does not allow for the swift and certain imposition of capital punishment. Deterrence theory holds that for a punishment to deter, it must be swift, certain and severe. Death penalty advocates argue that a death penalty that is swift and certain is likely to deter others.
In which section of a research report will Jose learn that the investigators used a randomized controlled trial to study the effects of violent pop culture on individual decision making, and that a two-tailed test of statistical significance was used?
The description of the research plan The research design, data-gathering strategies, and plans for statistical analysis are all described in the description of the research plan.
How do biosocial criminologists like Anthony Walsh explain the gender ratio problem?
They suggest that there is something about gender itself that explains the gender gap in crime.
How do classical and neoclassical criminology differ in their views of punishment?
While classical thought viewed deterrence as the primary purpose of punishment, neoclassical thought has expanded the role of punishment to include the concept of retribution. Whereas punishment served the ends of deterrence in classical thought, its role in neoclassical thinking has been expanded to support the ancient concept of retribution, with those advocating retribution seeing the primary utility of punishment as revenge.
According to critics of biological and biosocial theories, which of the following questions are these approaches least likely to be able to answer?
Why do lower-class individuals commit more violent crime than middle- and upper-class individuals?
An example of evidence-based criminology occurs when
a city's experiment with after-school activities was shown to significantly reduce rates of juvenile delinquency. This was a controlled experiment whose results could be analyzed and reviewed.
A(n) ________ is a brief summation of a research report's findings that lets readers determine whether the subject matter will be of interest to them without having to read the entire report.
abstract
Psychological profiling is built on the idea that _____.
behavioral clues left behind at a crime scene may reflect the personality of the offender
According to the standard social science model, the ________ myth holds that the human mind has no innate traits and that the human personality is fully malleable by society.
blank slate
Smoking in public places such as parks was recently criminalized in Ashfolk. This decision, however, was not put to a vote and was decided purely on the basis of the prevailing social norms of the country. It is most likely that Ashfolk's law was passed based on the ________ perspective.
consensus The consensus perspective holds that laws should be enacted to criminalize given forms of behavior when members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary.
Hank tells his lawyer that his continued poverty forced him to commit crimes for his survival. Hank's poverty is a(n) ________ of crime.
contribution The background causes of crime are called contributions. Offenders bring with them certain background features, such as personal life experiences, which include poverty.
According to Andrew Walsh, biosocial perspectives are attempting to explain ________.
criminality
Both Bill and Tom have been convicted of burglary and have both been sentenced to 5 years in prison. This is an example of ________.
determinate sentencing
The primary goal of the Human Genome Project (HGP) was to ________.
determine the complete chemical sequence of human DNA
Katie witnessed a murder when she was five. This affected her brain development and affected her behavior throughout her life. This phenomenon is best defined as ________.
embedding
Liam claims that men display aggression in order to attract women. He believes these displays are subconscious rather than deliberate. Liam's claims, linking aggression to reproduction, are explained by ________.
evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory
Scientists have found that violent psychopathy among juveniles is associated with damage to the orbital cortex of the brain. Findings from these and similar studies have led to the development of the ________.
frontal brain hypothesis
Faye has located a distinct portion of a cell's DNA that carries the coded instructions for making serum albumin, a protein the body needs. Faye has identified a ________.
gene
Researchers have found that female mice who had been trained to avoid a negative stimulus passed that behavior on to offspring long after the stimulus had ended. This phenomenon is known as __________.
genetic memory
Mark has been convicted of a large number of thefts and burglaries and has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The judge states that keeping Mark in prison for such a long time will reduce the likelihood that he will be able to commit future offenses. This is an example of ________.
incapacitation
When Marty was a child, his father routinely beat his mother. In elementary school, Marty hit children on the playground. As an adult, he acted violently toward his partners in romantic relationships. Marty's situation illustrates the concept of __________.
modeling
The practice of evidence-based criminology puts the criminologist in role of a(n)
scientist. Correct. Evidence-based criminology involves research conducted using rigorous social scientific techniques, placing the criminologist in the role of scientist or scientific researcher.
Felicity steals her sister Lily's pearl necklace and sells it. Felicity claims that she stole it because she needed the money, while Lily accuses her of being jealous. Their neighbor, Stefan, observes the argument and concludes that the crime occurred because of the deterioration of family values. Such different interpretations of the same event are explained by the concept of
social relativity. Social relativity means that social events are interpreted differently according to the cultural experiences and personal interests of the initiator, the observer, or the recipient of that behavior.
Drew is excited by the thought of driving fast. Though he is aware of the speed limits and that he could be arrested, he enjoys speed. Sometimes he imagines himself to be in a high-speed car chase, which further adds to the thrill. Drew's behavior best fits the ________ perspective on crime.
social responsibility Advocates of the social responsibility perspective say that perpetrators may choose crime because it is exciting, offers illicit pleasures, and the companionship of like-minded thrill-seekers, or because it is simply personally less demanding than conformity.
Most contemporary criminologists primarily employ a(n) ________ perspective.
sociological The primary perspective from which many contemporary criminologists operate is a sociological one.
Bo, an athlete who wants to add muscle, purchases a supplement from a friend; however, within several weeks, Bo gets stronger but also finds he has gotten into several fights, something that has never happened before. It is possible that the supplement contained high levels of ________.
testosterone
Juan has a strong, muscular build and frequently displays violent and aggressive tendencies. His doctor attributes both his physical and behavioral characteristics to high levels of the male sex hormone ________.
testosterone
Ruby works with juvenile delinquents as part of a rehabilitation program. Although she is told often by people that these juveniles "have crime in their blood," she is convinced that providing the right environment can reduce criminal tendencies. Moreover, she believes that their genes are more likely to be facilitators, rather than determinants, of behavior. In this scenario, Ruby is an advocate of _____.
the biosocial perspective
A study reveals that the gene responsible for producing healthy offspring also produces violent tendencies in individuals. It is inferred that aggressive displays were developed to protect the biological offspring. This reasoning falls in line with ________.
the evolutionary perspective
Before initiating its after-school programs, city council members received testimony from a criminologist who theorized that such activities would lead to reduced rates of juvenile delinquency. This connection between research and workable social policy is referred to as
translational criminology. Successfully connecting theory and social policy is the heart of translational criminology.
The state legislature recent passed a new law which states that all offenders who are sentenced to a term of incarceration must serve at least 75 percent of their term before they may be considered for parole. This is an example of _____________.
truth in sentencing
________ is a medical condition characterized by low blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia
Which of the following statements best describes Incapacitation?
Incapacitation involves using mechanisms such as incarceration to reduce the likelihood that an offender will be capable of committing future offenses.
In which scenario would an individual be most likely to be found not guilty of murder in a state that used the irresistible-impulse test as a measure of legal insanity?
Suzette told her husband, John, that she was planning to file for divorce. The following day, John murdered her.
Which of the following best describes psychological profiling?
The attempt to categorize, understand, and predict an offender's behavior based on behavioral clues
Which of the following is a criticism of sociobiology?
There is no credible evidence of genetically based or determined tendencies to act in certain ways.
Which statement regarding biosocial and biological theories of criminality is true?
These perspectives claim to understand the causes of criminality but fail to predict it.
A theory which attempts to explain all (or at least most) forms of criminal conduct through a single overarching approach is referred to as a(n) ________ theory.
general A general theory attempts to explain all (or at least most) forms of criminal conduct through a single overarching approach.
The ________ perspective holds that behaviors are typically criminalized through a political process only after debate over the appropriate course of action.
pluralist The pluralist perspective holds that behaviors are typically criminalized through a political process only after debate over the appropriate course of action.
There has been considerable debate over the legalization of marijuana. In a number of states, voters have decided to modify the law to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. This is an example of the _________ perspective.
pluralist The pluralist perspective says that behaviors are typically criminalized (or legalized) through a political process only after debate over the appropriate course of action.
According to Hervey Cleckley, the central defining characteristic of a psychopath is _________.
poverty of affect
Adrian Raine found that _________ may predispose someone to violence and crime.
prefrontal cortex dysfunction.
Which of the following research findings would best support the notion of atavism?
Carlo studies incarcerated male offenders and concludes that their facial features differ from those of non-criminals.
Which of the following is a valid criticism of classical criminology?
Classical criminology fails to explain how individuals choose whether to engage in criminal activity.
Renn is sentenced to prison for aggravated assault. While in prison, a counselor teaches him deep breathing and meditation techniques, as well as productive ways to channel his aggression. Renn also takes part in group sessions wherein effective communication skills are taught. Which type of program is Renn participating in?
Cognitive behavioral intervention
Which of the following statements regarding forensic psychiatry is true?
Forensic psychiatry is a medical subspecialty that applies psychiatry to criminal rehabilitation.
Which generation of risk assessment included responsivity factors?
Fourth generation
During a discussion about capital punishment, Jamal argues that criminals such as serial killers, who were executed by the criminal justice system, simply got what they deserved. Jamal's argument is best aligned with which model?
Just deserts
Based on Wilson and Herrnstein's research, which of the following individuals would be most at-risk of involvement in criminal behavior?
Liam is 17 years old. He is male, plays football, and is failing many of his high school classes.
Joel is interesting in studying a local motorcycle gang. He joins the gang and becomes an active member to learn about the gang's activities. Which data-gathering technique is Joel using?
Participant observation
Which best describes the way that cognitive information-processing theory (CIP) explains violent behavior?
Violent individuals misuse information in the decision-making process and act on those misperceptions in overly defensive or aggressive ways.
The belief that society exists to provide individuals with benefits that they would not receive living in isolation is a central assumption of _______ criminology.
classical
Fred, a 35-year-old accountant, witnesses a car accident on a lonely road. He drives slowly past the scene and sees many injured people, but offers no help and does not call 911, even though Good Samaritan laws apply. Fred's behavior is an example of
criminal behavior. Criminal behavior is human activity, both intentional and negligent, that violates the criminal law. It may include a failure to act when there is a legal obligation to do so, as was the case with Fred.
Sonya is interviewing subjects about their history of substance abuse. Before the interviews, she tells the subjects that their responses will be used to understand social aspects of drug abuse, reassures them that their participation is voluntary, and explains that they may withdraw from the study at any time. In this case, Sonya is ensuring ________.
informed consent
The _____ model indicates that criminal offenders deserve the punishment they receive at the hands of the law.
just deserts
Ted works at a large state prison and decides to track all offenders released during a single year. He discovered that 53 percent of these offenders were rearrested for a new crime within the next five years. Ted has calculated the ________ rate.
recidivism
George was born with a "normal" personality but was severely abused as a young child and began to exhibit a number of psychopathic characteristics. George could best be classified as a(n) _________ psychopath.
secondary
An early Positivist would be most likely to support _________.
social determinism
Given the research by Rotton and Cohn, at which of the following times would you expect the relationship between temperature and assaults to be the strongest?
11 p.m.
Which scenario most appropriately relates to evidence-based criminology?
A criminal psychologist believes that damage to a particular part of the brain results in increased risk that an individual commits violent crime. She obtains funding to research this and presents her findings in a paper. Evidence-based criminology is rooted in scientific experimental methodology. In this scenario, the psychologist develops a hypothesis, designs a study, carries out research, and presents scientific findings.
George analyzes and compiles the results of 127 previously published studies about the occurrences of drunk driving in major cities. Which type of research has George conducted?
A meta-analysis
Which scenario best illustrates evidence-based criminology in action?
A researcher develops a research study to test her theory that college-educated offenders are more likely to commit property crimes than violent crimes. The researcher has proposed a theory and developed an experiment to test it.
Which of the following is an example of how criminological research affects public policy?
A researcher found that diverting low-level offenders out of the criminal justice system significantly reduced recidivism. After the results were publicized, several jurisdictions created diversion programs for minor offenders.It is clear that the diversion programs were created in response to the research results.
Which of the following statements regarding supermales is true?
A supermale has an additional Y chromosome.
Which of the following statements best defines mala in se acts?
Acts that are said to be fundamentally wrong in and of themselves.
Which of the following is an example of altruism?
After a hunt, wolves bring back meat to weaker members of the pack.
Which of the following is an example of a restrictive punishment, according to Jeremy Bentham?
After his third speeding ticket, Joshua's license is suspended.
Which statement illustrates the process of theory building?
After observing that crime rates vary throughout the month, a researcher theorizes that the full moon provides more light, making it easier for offenders to see to commit crimes at night. The researcher collects data on crime during each lunar phase and finds that more crimes occur when the moon is full. In this case, the researcher has created a theory first and then collected data to test it.
Brody is a strong support of biological explanations of behavior and claims that there is sufficient evidence to prove that crime can be explained by biology. Which of the following findings is most likely to refute Brody's claim?
After states lowered the legal limit for driving under the influence to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, drunk driving arrests increased.
Which of the following scenarios is based on principles of classical criminology?
After weighing the pros and cons of robbing a local liquor store, Robert decides that he can get away with the crime and demands money from the clerk.
Which of the following people can be characterized as neurotic, according to Eysenck's trait theory?
Alan is emotional, irrational in making decisions, and shy.
Which of the following convicted murderers would a criminal profiler be most likely to classify as an organized nonsocial lust murderer?
Alex was described by his co-workers as very methodical in his work but also very self-centered. He committed murder while on vacation out of state.
________ are alternate forms of a gene.
Alleles
Which statement best describes the relevance of altruism to sociobiological theory?
Altruism plays a role in ensuring the survival and continuity of the gene pool in a species.
Which of the following is a feature of scientific research, such as evidence-based criminology?
An emphasis on a worthwhile subject in need of independent study For an endeavor to be considered scientific, it must include an emphasis on a worthwhile subject that requires independent study, even if adequate techniques for studying that subject are not yet available.
Which of the following ideas that characterized early psychological theories emphasized conditioning?
Behaviorism
In which of the following cases is a qualitative research method being employed?
Betty asks participants open-ended questions about law enforcement practices in urban areas. Interviews are a method of gathering qualitative data.
Which of the following is true about current perceptions of biology's influence on criminal behavior?
Biological influences are mediated through a person's surroundings to produce behavior.
How do modern theorists view the influence of biology on crime?
Biological influences are mediated through the environment to produce behavior.
_____ maintain(s) that the basic determinants of human behavior, including criminality, are constitutionally based and often inherited.
Biological theories
Which of the following behaviors can be attributed to a dysregulation of the hormone serotonin in the brain?
Brad often acts impulsively and irresponsibly.
__________ is/are defined as the scientific study of crime, the criminal law, and components of the criminal justice system, including the police, courts, and corrections.
Criminal justice This is the definition of criminal justice.
Which of the following statements best represents the views of Jack Katz?
Criminal offenders find crime rewarding because it is exciting and feels good.
According to the basic assumptions of biological theories, which behavior is more likely to be learned, rather than being instinctual in humans?
Criminality
Mark is attempting to convince the parole board that he should be released. He explains that he has obtained vocational training while in prison and will have a job. He also states that he has a young daughter and wants to set a good example for her. The parole board considers this information when assessing which concept?
Dangerousness
In which of the following scenarios has a violation of criminal law occurred?
Daniel drives above the speed limit specified for the interstate highway, but does not harm anyone or cause any damage. Speeding on interstate highways is illegal irrespective of whether any damage was caused to people or property.
After a researcher conducts a study on the risk factors for pedophilia, the list of participating test subjects is made public. This violates which ethical standard?
Data confidentiality
Jim researched how inmates responded to more humane treatment by the guards, and then published the results of his study hoping to affect public policy. However, when other researchers repeated the study, they found the interactions to be very different from what Jim observed. What problem did the studies encounter?
Data replicability
Hilary believes that the root causes of criminality are found in "bad genes," which are passed from one generation to the next. Which of the following beliefs is Hilary supporting?
Eugenics
George has received a research grant to study prostitution in the community and hires six graduate students to interview local prostitutes. When George reads through the interviews, he notices that the subjects interviewed by Heidi, one of the graduate students, tended to be much less responsive than those interviewed by the other students. He questions Heidi and discovers that she considers individuals involved in prostitution to be depraved and that she communicated her beliefs to the subjects she interviewed. Heidi has most clearly violated which of Frank Hagan's ethical guidelines?
Exercise objectivity and professional integrity in performing and reporting research.
Which of Frank Hagan's ethical guidelines was violated when the publication of information about the inefficacy of D.A.R.E. programs was blocked by the NIJ?
Exercise objectivity and professional integrity in research.
What concept is expressed by GxE?
GxE is a formula that highlights the interaction of genes and the environment.
According to Andrews and Bonta, which of the following factors is a static element and therefore should not be considered a criminogenic need?
Having a criminal record
Ian is studying pairs of identical and fraternal twins and claims that his results suggest that criminal tendencies are due primarily to genetic factors. What did Ian find?
Ian found that MZ twin pairs were more likely to display similar degrees of criminality than DZ twin pairs.
Which of the following statements regarding the guilty but mentally ill (GBMI) verdict is true?
If the jury returns a finding of GBMI, the judge may impose any sentence that is permitted under the law for the crime the offender committed.
Michael's parents divorced when he was very young and he grows up poor, without many opportunities to thrive. He eventually begins to participate in criminal activities and is eventually arrested and charged with breaking and entering, as well as assault with a deadly weapon. In her closing argument, the prosecutor asserts that many other individuals in Michael's position do not commit crimes and that Michael is solely responsible for his behaviors. Which perspective most closely reflects the prosecutor's argument?
Individual responsibility perspective The individual responsibility perspective asserts that individuals are fundamentally responsible for their own behavior and that they choose crime over other, more law-abiding courses of action.
Which is true of the political perspective on crime?
It asserts that criminal laws do not necessarily bear any inherent relationship to popular notions of right and wrong. The political perspective defines crime in terms of the power structures that exist in society and asserts that criminal laws do not necessarily bear any inherent relationship to popular notions of right and wrong.
Which of the following is a criticism of behavior theory?
It ignores the role that cognition plays in human behavior.
Which of the following best describes crime from a legalistic perspective?
It is any human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws. According to the legalistic perspective, crime is human conduct in violation of the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make such laws.
Which statement regarding evidence-based criminology is true?
It is founded upon the experimental scientific method. Evidence-based criminology used social science techniques, especially randomized controlled experiments, in theory testing.
Which of the following is true of the consensus perspective on criminalizing certain behaviors?
It is most applicable to homogeneous societies, or those characterized by shared values, norms, and belief systems. The consensus perspective holds that laws should be enacted to criminalize given forms of behavior when members of society generally agree that such laws are necessary. This is most applicable to homogeneous societies, or those characterized by shared values, norms, and belief systems.
Which of the following is true of operationalization?
It states a hypothesis in a way that facilitates measurement.
Jon wants to know how images of violence affect individuals who are not routinely exposed to violent images. He is teaching two sections of a research methods course, so he exposes the students in one section to violent images and records their reactions. He exposes the students in the other section to nonviolent images and records their reactions. What approach is Jon using to help validate his results?
Jon is using a control group to help isolate the effects of violent images. A control group is not exposed to the experimental intervention, in this case violent images.
Which of the following is considered deviant behavior?
Lily, a lawyer, prefers to wear casual clothes to work despite her firm having a formal dress code. Deviant behavior is human activity that violates social norms. Lily's behavior is considered deviant and not criminal.
Which of the following factors has been linked to antisocial behavior?
Low digit ratios
According to Sheldon's research into somatotyping, which body type is most likely to be associated with involvement in delinquency?
Mesomorph
Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement, according to behavior theory?
Mike, a second-grader, hates making his bed and was allowed to leave it unmade this week because he set the table every day without complaining.
Which theory holds that individuals become criminal when they have not successfully completed their intellectual development from childhood to adulthood?
Moral development theory
Which of the following studies is using quantitative methods?
Nathan uses police reports to determine the age at which juveniles are most likely to begin committing serious crimes.
What is considered to be responsible for the recent reemergence of interest in Freudian psychology?
Neuroscientists have been creating a chemical map of the brain that validates the general theory that Freud posited.
Which of the following is a key assumption of biological theories?
Observed gender and racial differences in rates and types of criminality may be, at least partially, the result of biological differences.
Which of the following individuals is considered a criminal justice professional?
Police officer Police officers, corrections professionals, probation and parole officers, judges, district attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, and others who do the day-to-day work of the criminal justice system are best referred to as criminal justice professionals.
When George was a young teen, older boys who were members of a criminal gang paid him to act as lookout when they committed household burglaries. George eventually joins the gang and begins to commit crimes on his own, eventually becoming a career criminal. Which concept best explains George's behavior?
Positive reinforcement
Sandra, a six-year-old, is losing her baby teeth. She puts them under her pillow, believing that the tooth fairy will visit her. According to Piaget, Sandra is in which stage of human intellectual development?
Preoperational stage
Dr. Jonas works in a state prison and observes that a large number of inmates who are incarcerated for committing a specific violent crime come from the same neighborhood. Most of them have mentioned a "peculiar smell" that existed in their neighborhood. Dr. Jonas theorizes that an environmental contaminant present in that neighborhood causes brain damage which manifests as a specific type of violent behavior. She researches this and publishes a paper which details her findings and proposes a solution for addressing the environmental contaminant. Which type of research has Dr. Jonas conducted?
Primary research
Which of the following statements best explains the difference in perspective between psychological and sociological theories?
Psychological theories focus on individual behavior while sociological theories examine the types of behavior likely to be exhibited by a certain group.
Which of the following statements best fits with Cesare Beccaria's views regarding crime and punishment?
Punishment should be only severe enough to outweigh the personal benefits obtained from the crime.
Which of the following best illustrates a challenge to translational criminology?
Research showing a detrimental link between on-screen violence and increased levels of violent behavior among children Although research strongly supports such a link, such claims are frequently met with "cries of incredulity" and policy makers are reluctant to slow the production of violent media.
Which of the following is an example of secondary research?
Rita assesses the effectiveness of a drug awareness program by analyzing the results obtained by 16 previously published studies. Secondary research consists of new evaluations of existing information that has already been collected by other researchers. Since Rita is using previously published results, this is secondary research.
Which of the following would Cesare Beccaria be most likely to consider a just punishment?
Roberto is convicted of assault and is sentenced to be flogged the next day.
According to frustration-aggression theory, which of the following children is most likely to learn to suppress outward expressions of aggression?
Sam is seven years old. His parents are very loving but when he misbehaves, they take away his TV or computer game privileges for a few days.
The eugenics movement proposed which of the following social policies as a way of improving the species?
Selective human breeding
Dr. Abernathy believes that all criminal activity stems from class struggle, arguing that unequal power relationships between social groups and the unequal distribution of wealth within society causes crime. This belief is related most closely to which sociological explanation of crime?
Social conflict theories.
Thomas Hobbes argued that people are so afraid of violent death that they are willing to give up some freedoms to the government in exchange for protection. Which concept best represents Hobbes' belief?
Social contract
Reginald's parents are divorced. He grew up in a low-income home in a rough neighborhood. Because of his background, Reginald becomes involved in crime. Which perspective best explains this outcome?
Social problems perspective The social problems perspective is the belief that crime is a manifestation of underlying social problems, such as poverty, discrimination, pervasive family violence, inadequate socialization practices, and the breakdown of traditional social institutions, which matches Reginald's situation quite well.
________ is defined as the notion that social events are interpreted differently according to the cultural experiences and personal interests of the initiator, the observer, or the recipient of that behavior.
Social relativity Social relativity means that social events are interpreted differently according to the cultural experiences and personal interests of the initiator, the observer, or the recipient of that behavior.
Sally has designed a study to analyze physical characteristics of a population of male criminals in a state prison system. She collects information on the height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and overall body type of criminals who have committed violent crimes. Which term is most closely related to the researcher's study?
Somatotyping
___________ is a situational crime prevention technique that involves adding fences, alarms, and electronic surveillance to improve a building's security.
Target hardening
The rivalry between two Chicago street gangs, the Gangster Disciples and the Latin Kings, is responsible for a large number of homicides and other violence in the city. Which aspect of sociobiology can be used to explain this?
Territoriality
What differentiates deviant behavior from delinquent behavior?
The age of the perpetrator Delinquent behavior is misbehavior—criminal or deviant—that is carried out by young people. Youth is determined as under 18 in some states, but under 16 or 17 in others.
_____________ refers to the fact that for almost all types of crime, men commit many more offenses than women.
The gender ratio problem
Jean is a psychologist in a juvenile detention center. She is working with a group of 15- and 16-year-old girls who have been affiliated with a local criminal gang. Because Jean believes in the criminal mind-set concept developed by Samenow and Yochelson, which of the following statements is she most likely to make about the girls?
The girls have a criminal world view and chose crime because of the way they think, not because of environmental factors.
Jeremy sets out to determine the complete chemical sequence of the entire set of human DNA. When he has finished, what has Jeremy sequenced?
The human genome
What is the primary unit of analysis in psychological and psychiatric theories of crime causation?
The individual
Which of the following statements regarding the legal concept of insanity is true?
The legal concept of insanity is based on claims of mental illness
Which statement is true about the proper order in the theory building process?
Theory building begins as a result of an observed correlation.
Which of the following statements is a key theme of phrenology, as proposed by Franz Joseph Gall?
The shape of the skull corresponds to the shape of the brain and indicates personality.
Which of the following is an example of a policy of selective incapacitation?
The state legislature requires judges to sentence all third-time violent felons to an additional five years in prison.
Which of the following is a key principle of classical criminology?
The two central determining factors of human behavior are pain and pleasure
Which of the following statements regarding the purpose of theory is true?
Theories give meaning to observations, explaining what we see in a particular setting by relating it to other things already understood. Theories help expand our understanding of phenomena by giving meaning to observations
Which of the following is true of qualitative research methods?
They are important for the insights they provide into the subjective workings of the criminal mind. Qualitative methods are important for the insights they provide into the subjective workings of the criminal mind and the processes by which meaning is accorded to human experience.
Which of the following best defines qualitative research methods?
They are research techniques that produce subjective results.
Which of the following is true of advocates of the social problems perspective on crime and criminality?
They believe crime must be addressed in the same way as public health concerns. Advocates of the social problems perspective advance solutions to crime based on a public-health model, i.e., crime must be addressed in much the same way as public-health concerns like AIDS, herpes, or avian flu.
According to Kohlberg's cognitive structural theory of morality, why do people become involved in crime?
They have not been able to transition to higher developmental stages of moral reasoning.
Which of the following statements regarding newer biosocial perspectives is correct?
They hold that genes are more likely to be facilitators of behavior.
_________ is defined as the attitudes and behavior that result from strong feelings of identification with one's own social group.
Tribalism
Which of the following statements best supports the use of selective incapacitation as a crime-control strategy?
Three-strikes laws and similar habitual offender statutes focus on incarcerating offenders who are chronic recidivists.
Which of the following describes a person with a properly developed superego?
Tim learns that his wife has cheated on him when he finds a letter from her lover. He wants to find the lover and hurt or even kill him, but does not because he believes that violence is morally wrong.
What is a primary goal of CrimeSolutions.gov?
To encourage practitioners to replicate successful programs
Which of the following scenarios is an example of John Bowlby's concept of secure attachment?
Two-year-old Celine cries when her mother is out of sight, but discovers that when she falls down and hurts herself, her mother comes to help her.
Which of the following examples best illustrates the fact that deviant behavior is not necessarily criminal?
Wearing eccentric and shocking styles of clothing, but not violating decency statutes Deviant styles of dress, for example, although perhaps outlandish to the majority, are generally not circumscribed by criminal law unless (perhaps) decency statutes are violated by a lack of clothing.
Which of the following individuals is most likely to be suffering from schizophrenia?
While Jake is away at college, his grandfather is killed in a car accident. Jake tells his roommate that his grandfather is talking to him and telling him to kill himself so that they can be together.
Pete claims that capital punishment is unfair because it is imposed disproportionately on racial minorities. Oscar is an advocate of capital punishment and disagrees. Which of the following arguments best supports Oscar's position?
While about 50% of those on death row are racial minorities, about 50% of all crimes eligible for the death penalty are committed by racial minorities, so there is no disproportionality. Capital punishment advocates argue that the question is not whether ethnic differences exist in the rate of imposition of the death penalty, but rather whether the penalty is imposed fairly.
A(n) ________ is defined as an alternate form of a gene, or any of several forms of a gene, usually occurring through mutation.
allele
Sonya is expected to dress well for work but cannot always afford new clothes, so she occasionally resorts to shoplifting. Cesare Lombroso would most likely consider Sonya to be a(n) _________.
criminaloid
Professor Martin's research examines the relationship between crime and socioeconomic status. Because she is often asked to provide consulting services to local and state law enforcement agencies, Professor Martin is a
criminologist. A criminologist is one who is trained in the field of criminology; also, one who studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior.
Jason argues that career criminals and mentally handicapped individuals should not be allowed to have biological children, as their "bad genes" would only lead to more criminals being born. Based on this information, Jason appears to accept the idea of ________.
genetic determinism
The belief that crime results from forces beyond the individual's control is termed ________.
hard determinism
Jeremy Bentham argued that the value a behavior holds for the individual who engages in it is determined by the amount of pleasure or pain the behavior can be expected to produce for that person. This belief is known as _________.
hedonistic calculus
The belief that behavior holds value to any individual undertaking it according to the amount of pleasure or pain it can be expected to produce for that person is referred to as __________.
hedonistic calculus
The criminal anthropologists who studied the Jukes and the Kallikaks were focusing on _________.
heredity
George studies variations in the height of European males to understand how much of the variation in height is attributable to genetic factors. George is attempting to estimate the ________ of height.
heritability
The consensus perspective is most applicable to ______________ societies.
homogeneous Consensus is less difficult in a non-diverse society.
A tentative explanation accounting for a set of facts that can be tested by further investigation is a(n) ________.
hypothesis
Dr. Presley, a sociologist, and Dr. Meyer, a genetic biologist, have both spent many years working with incarcerated violent adult offenders to study the impact of early childhood experiences on adult criminality. Working together, they have developed a theory of violent criminal behavior that uses concepts from both fields of study. They have most likely developed a(n) ___________ theory.
integrated An integrated theory has an explanatory perspective that merges (or attempts to merge) concepts drawn from different sources. Dr. Presley and Dr. Meyer have different scientific backgrounds (sociology and genetic biology) and have developed a theory that uses concepts from both fields. This is most likely an integrated theory of criminal behavior.
Jonathan is writing a research report about home security in the United States. He is currently preparing the section that discusses discussing previously published articles about home invasions, burglary rates, and advances in home security systems. He also explains how these studies relate to his research. Jonathan is compiling the ________ section of his research report
literature review
Justin is a criminologist who studies alcohol abuse. He believes that all forms of alcohol abuse should be criminal, regardless of whether or not they cause harm to others. Justin is most likely to hold the ________ perspective on crime.
maladaptive The maladaptive view of crime does not require any of the traditional elements in order for an act to be a crime: no actual harm to others; no prohibition by law before the act is committed; no arrest; and no conviction in a court of law. Any behavior which is maladaptive would be considered crime.
Adrian Raine's research into brain dysfunction has led to the development of an approach known as _________
neurocriminology
Groups opposed to abortion may claim that the unborn fetus is a person and entitled to all the protections that any other living human being receives. This argument is based on ________.
natural law
Joseph has an accident that leaves him with minor brain trauma resulting in temporary memory loss. His doctor tells him that other parts of his brain, adjacent to the site of the injury, may assume some of the lost functions and he may regain his memory. Joseph's doctor is explaining a phenomenon known as ________.
neuroplasticity
Chemical substance(s) that facilitate(s) the flow of electrical impulses from one neuron to the next across nerve synapses is/are called __________.
neurotransmitters
Will has noticed that a many of his friends who dropped out of school have been involved in some form of petty crime within a few years after dropping out. He suggests that an uneducated population is more likely to be a crime-prone population. Will appears to be in the ________ stage of scientific research.
problem identification Problem identification, the first step in any research, consists of naming a problem or choosing an issue to study. By observing the correlation between dropping out and propensity for crime, Will is identifying a question that can be built into a theory.
Within the last few years, a new field of study called ________ has begun to emerge that looks at the psychological and behavioral effects that bacteria can have on the mind, feelings, emotions, and behavior.
psychobiotics
James, an introvert, typically does not engage in any physical activity with his friends and is considered to be antisocial at school. Moreover, he lacks sympathy for underprivileged members of society and is easily embarrassed by others. In this scenario, James shows signs of _____.
psychopathy
After deliberate thought, Clayton decides to embezzle money from his employer. He believes his employer will not notice, and therefore his chances of getting caught are minimal, while the benefits he will receive from the extra money are huge. Clayton's crime is best explained by ________.
rational choice theory
The primary significance of crime and of criminal behavior is fundamentally ______ in nature.
social The effects fall upon society as a whole
It is asserted in this chapter that control over crime must stem from effective
social policy. Since the effects of crime fall upon society, a social response is therefore necessary.
Differing interpretations of the killing of black men by the police is an example of
social relativity. Social relativity is defined as the notion that social events are interpreted differently according to the cultural experiences and personal interests of the initiator, the observer, or the recipient of that behavior.
Different communities view the presence of police in different ways. These difference might be explained by
social relativity. Social relativity means that social events are interpreted differently according to the cultural experiences and personal interests of the initiator, the observer, or the recipient of that behavior.
Neil believes that individual evil behavior can be explained by spiritual influences. His view best fits __________.
the Demonic Era
