Criminology #2

26. Discuss and evaluate Merton's theory of anomie and the five modes of adaptation.

Conformity- This one agrees to both Structurally permitted means and culturally permitted goals. Innovation- This one agrees with the culturally permitted goals but finds a new path to achieve it. Ritualism- This one agrees with the structurally permitted means but also somewhere believes that he will not be able to achieve his goals. Retreatism- This one does not need to achieve any goal or is ready for any path. This one completely has withdrawn from society. Rebellion- This set of people don't believe in achieving any goal set by society or wish to take the beaten path to achieve it. They refashion the whole of the social framework. For some people, like minorities, a racist society can reduce their chances by restricting the chances for them to educate themselves and thereby earn a respectable living. People are denied chances to achieve success based on race, ethnicity or class. Criticism of the theory is that this theory seems to believe that people in the lower economic strata tend to pursue deviant activity whereas this is not so. In real life, several people in low socio-economic class have achieved what is called an 'American dream.'

8. Merton's theory has been criticized for which of the following reasons? A. It neglects crime committed by middle- and upper-class people. B. It assumes the heterogeneous society in the United States has goals that everyone agrees on. C. It cannot explain why there is so much useless, destructive behavior. D. All of these are criticism of Merton's theory.

D. All of these are criticism of Merton's theory.

18. After evaluating the existing literature on the relationship between IQ and crime, Travis Hirschi and Michael Hindelang concluded that A. IQ is not an important factor for predicting crime. B. IQ is an important factor in predicting crime, but not as important as social class. C. IQ is an important factor in predicting crime, but not as important as race. D. IQ is an even more important factor in predicting crime than either social class or race.

D. IQ is an even more important factor in predicting crime than either social class or race.

12. Which region of the United States has the highest homicide rate in the United States? A. North B. West C. Midwest D. South

D. South

14. The possible relationship between chromosomal abnormality and criminal behavior has been investigated by studying the __________ syndrome chromosome. A. XX B. XY C. XXY D. XYY

D. XYY

17. Highly sophisticated gangs are heavily involved in which of the following aspects of retail drug distribution? A. smuggling B. transportation C. wholesale distribution D. all of these

D. all of these

16. In 1939, Edwin Sutherland introduced the ___________ theory in Principles of Criminology. A. anomie B. social disorganization C. cultural transmission D. differential association

D. differential association

19. Researchers have identified several types of suburban gangs. Which of the following is not one? A. delinquent gangs B. hate gangs C. satanic gangs D. drug gangs

D. drug gangs

6. Merton and his followers believe that the greatest proportion of crime will be found A. evenly distributed across the social classes. B. in the upper classes. C. in the middle classes. D. in the lower classes.

D. in the lower classes.

7. Which of the following is not one of the features of Bowlby's theory of attachment? A. specificity B. duration C. ontogeny D. neurological function

D. neurological function

4. According to the moral reasoning theory developed by Kohlberg, individuals who examine customs and social rules according to their own sense of universal human rights, moral principles, and duties are at the _____________ level. A. preconventional B. premoral C. conventional D. postconventional

D. postconventional

11. Eysenck claims that all human personality may be seen in three dimensions. What are those dimensions? A. id, ego, and superego B. conditioning, cortical arousal, behavior modeling C. preconventional, conventional, postconventional D. psychoticism, extroversion, neuroticism

D. psychoticism, extroversion, neuroticism

7. Members of ___________ gangs are described as double failures because they have not been successful in the legitimate world and have been equally unsuccessful in the illegitimate worlds of organized criminal activity and violence-oriented gangs. A. conflict B. criminal C. innovation D. retreatist

D. retreatist

3. Freud proposed that the __________ acts as a moral code or conscience. A. id B. ego C. supraego D. superego

D. superego

16. Stephen Cernovich concluded that it is ______ rather than class that is/are associated with delinquency. A. races B. status C. goals D. values

D. values

4. Which of the following does Cohen's theory not explain? A. the origin of delinquent behavior B. why some youths raised in the same neighborhoods and attending the same schools do not become involved in delinquent subcultures C. types of roles that lower-class boys adopt in response to status frustration and strain D. why most delinquents become law-abiding individuals even though their position in the class structure remains relatively fixed

D. why most delinquents become law-abiding individuals even though their position in the class structure remains relatively fixed

26. Discuss Cloward and Ohlin's differential opportunity theory.

Differential Opportunity Theory suggests that ones socio-economic environment serves as a prediction of their likelihood of achieving financial success through either legitimate or illegitimate means. Meaning, someone's future can be predicted by seeing where the person comes from, as well as, what they have. For example, if a poor person from the projects is looked at, it can be determined that they will never go to higher education and achieve a high paying job, but rather gain money and success through crime like dealing drugs.

21. Local and state law enforcement agencies reported a decrease in active criminal gangs in their jurisdiction between 2004 and 2008. A. True B. False

A. True

21. Social learning theory maintains that delinquent behavior is learned through the same psychological processes as any other behavior. A. True B. False

A. True

21. The structural-functionalist perspective was developed by Emile Durkheim. A. True B. False

A. True

22. Cloward and Ohlin maintain that the types of subcultures and of juvenile gangs that flourish within them depend on the type of neighborhood in which they develop. A. True B. False

A. True

23. Today, moral insanity is called psychopathy, sociopathy, or antisocial personality. A. True B. False

A. True

24. Messner and Rosenfeld believe that the American Dream does not encourage high crime rates. A. True B. False

A. True

24. Wolfgang and Ferracuti argue that in some subcultures behavior norms are dictated by a value system that demands the use of force or violence. A. True B. False

A. True

25. According to Sellin, primary conflict occurs when norms of two cultures clash. A. True B. False

A. True

25. Recent studies on gang membership suggest that between 10 and 25 percent of gang members nationwide are female. A. True B. False

A. True

1. According to Cohen, delinquent subcultures are rooted in all but which of the following? A. acceptance of violence as normal B. class differentials in parental aspirations C. child-rearing practices D. classroom standards

A. acceptance of violence as normal

6. The goal of _________ gangs is to gain a reputation for toughness and destructive violence. A. conflict B. criminal C. innovation D. retreatist

A. conflict

14. Park and Burgess advanced the study of social disorganization by introducing _________ into the study of human society. A. ecological analysis B. social class C. statistics D. modes of adaptation

A. ecological analysis

9. One of the main criticisms of differential opportunity theory is that A. it is class-oriented. B. it only identifies three types of gangs. C. it overlooks the fact that most delinquents become law-abiding adults. D. it ignores differential parental aspirations.

A. it is class-oriented.

15. Though social ecology has made a significant impact, these theories have been criticized for A. its focus on how crime patterns are transmitted, not on how they start in the first place. B. failing to explain how differential associations lead to crime. C. ignoring societal heterogeneity. D. not being able to explain all types of crime.

A. its focus on how crime patterns are transmitted, not on how they start in the first place.

20. Mobilization for Youth (MOBY) was based on what theory? A. opportunity B. cultural deviance C. learning D. social control

A. opportunity

6. The moral developmental theory posits that most delinquents and criminals reason at the ____________ level. A. preconventional B. premoral C. conventional D. postconventional

A. preconventional

19. If a clash occurs at the borders between neighboring cultural areas, this is an example of what type of conflict? A. primary B. secondary C. class D. race

A. primary

5. People who adapt by __________ reject both the cultural goals and the legitimate means to attain those goals. A. rebellion B. ritualism C. retreatism D. reformation

A. rebellion

13. Which of the following is not one of the focal concerns identified by Miller? A. self-confidence B. trouble C. luck D. excitement

A. self-confidence

10. Which of the following is not a strain-producing event discussed by Agnew? A. strain caused by social disorganization B. strain caused by the failure to achieve positively valued goals C. strain caused by the presentation of negative stimuli D. stress caused by the removal of positively valued stimuli from the individual

A. strain caused by social disorganization

17. The results of adoption studies A. support the claim that the criminality of biological parents has more influence on the child than does that of the adoptive parents. B. support the claim that the criminality of the adoptive parents has more influence on the child than does the criminality of the biological parents. C. suggest that neither the criminality of the biological parents nor the criminality of the adoptive parents affects the child. D. are not reliable, as none of the adoption studies to date have been deemed methodologically sound.

A. support the claim that the criminality of biological parents has more influence on the child than does that of the adoptive parents.

2. The psychoanalytic theory of criminality attributes delinquent and criminal behavior to at least three possible causes. Which of the following is not one of those causes? A. a conscience so overbearing that it arouses feelings of guilt B. an overactive superego or conscience C. a conscience so weak that it cannot control the individual's impulses D. the need for immediate gratification

B. an overactive superego or conscience

14. A lower-class person's resentment of external controls, whether parents, teachers, or police, is related to what focal concern? A. toughness B. autonomy C. self-esteem D. trouble

B. autonomy

4. Which of the following is not one of the modes of adaptation discusses by Merton? A. rebellion B. conflict C. retreatism D. conformity

B. conflict

5. According to Cloward and Ohlin, which gang types emerge where conventional and illegitimate values and behavior are integrated by a close connection of illegitimate and legitimate businesses? A. conflict gangs B. criminal gangs C. innovation gangs D. retreatist gangs

B. criminal gangs

2. Cohen argues that __________ band together to form a subculture in which they can define status in ways that seem attainable to them. A. street boys B. delinquent boys C. corner boys D. college boys

B. delinquent boys

19. The idea of "conditioned free will" implies that A. individuals are conditioned to recognize right from wrong. B. individuals make choices in regard to a particular action within a range of possibilities that is "preset" yet flexible. C. individuals weigh consequences and rewards of committing a criminal act before doing so. D. individuals are conditioned to think that they have free will when they actually do not.

B. individuals make choices in regard to a particular action within a range of possibilities that is "preset" yet flexible.

3. Merton's theory of anomie emphasizes A. that anger helps justify aggressive behavior and stimulates individuals into action. B. institutionalized means to attain the desired ends. C. that people learn to commit crime as a result of antisocial values, attitudes, and criminal behavior patterns. D. none of these

B. institutionalized means to attain the desired ends.

9. Which of the following is one of the instigators that Bandura describes in social learning theory? A. direct instigators B. instructional instigators C. indirect instigators D. marginal instigators

B. instructional instigators

12. According to Eysenck's conditioning theory, individuals that score high on measures of ___________ are aggressive, egocentric, and impulsive. A. extroversion B. psychoticism C. introversion D. neuroticism

B. psychoticism

20. Which type of conflict, according to Sellin, arises when a single culture evolves into a variety of cultures, each with its own conduct norms? A. primary B. secondary C. class D. race

B. secondary

9. Which of the following is not a manifestation of the dominance of economic institutions according to Messner and Rosenfeld? A. the devaluation of noneconomic rules and functions B. the absence of economic success C. the accommodation of other institutions to economic needs D. the penetration of economic norms

B. the absence of economic success

16. According to studies of twins, A. there is no evidence that genetic factors explain criminality. B. there is support for the hypothesis that some genetic influences increase the risk of criminality. C. there is a strong causal relationship between genetics and crime. D. there has not been enough research comparing monozygotic twins to dizygotic twins to make any conclusions.

B. there is support for the hypothesis that some genetic influences increase the risk of criminality.

12. Social disorganization theory A. states that different ethnic groups learn different conduct norms and that the conduct norms of one ethnic group in the slum will clash with the norms of another ethnicity in the same slum. B. maintains that people learn to commit crime as a result of contact with antisocial values, attitudes, and criminal behavior patterns. C. focuses on the development of high-crime areas that has a disintegration of conventional values caused by rapid industrialization, increased immigration, and urbanization. D. maintains that crime is most likely to occur among the lower social classes.

C. focuses on the development of high-crime areas that has a disintegration of conventional values caused by rapid industrialization, increased immigration, and urbanization.

8. Cloward and Ohlin's assumption that blocked opportunities are related to delinquency has A. strong empirical support. B. no empirical support. C. mixed empirical support. D. To date, no one has tested this assumption.

C. mixed empirical support.

11. Using nationwide data collected for the President's Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, Howard Erlanger found A. major differences in attitudes toward violence by class. B. major differences in attitudes toward violence by race. C. no major differences in attitudes toward violence by class or gender. D. no major differences in attitudes toward violence by race and gender.

C. no major differences in attitudes toward violence by class or gender.

15. In studying attachment to lower-class focal concerns, Cernovich found that toughness, excitement, trouble, and ___________ were related to self-reported delinquency in all classes. A. fate B. autonomy C. pleasure seeking D. self-esteem

C. pleasure seeking

7. In a study of 190 U.S. cities with populations of 100,000 or more, researchers found that both inequality and __________ are related to homicide rates. A. age B. race C. poverty D. gender

C. poverty

1. In the United States, explanations of criminal behavior have been dominated by what type of theories? A. psychological B. biological C. sociological D. philosophical

C. sociological

2. Durkheim's concept of anomie was intended to explain A. crime. B. juvenile delinquency. C. suicide. D. status offenses.

C. suicide.

11. Which of the following programs discussed in the text was a program designed to address the disparity between goals and means in society? A. Operation Weed and Seed B. LEAP C. the Chicago Area Project D. Perry Preschool Project

C. the Chicago Area Project

27. Discuss Wolfgang and Ferracuti subculture of violence.

Central to their discussion was the idea that higher rates of violence amongst lower-class and racialized populations could be explained by the fact that these groups have embraced values and norms that are more permissive of violence. This theorization assumes the existence of distinct subcultural, pro-violent values that develop in opposition to dominant or middle-class norms and values. They developed the subculture of violence theory in 1967 in an effort to explain homicides, or intentional deaths caused by an outside actor, that occur in social and recreational settings in poor parts of cities. They were focused on young, poor males involved in homicides. They wanted to understand why people resort to violence as a response to seemingly trivial events. They chose to look at homicides because not every shooting, fight or stabbing is reported to police. But a dead body is normally hard to hide, so those crimes usually get recorded. They learned that in these poor, urban areas, where mostly minority people live, a separate set of beliefs, norms and values, known as a subculture, exist. These beliefs and values are different from those held by most people. In these subcultures, violence is considered to be a normal, valid and expected response to an offensive act committed against a person. Ferracutti and Wolfgang also learned that these crimes of violence are often rooted in passion as opposed to accomplishing a goal. The beliefs of this subculture indicated that individual respect and personal reputation and personal identity must be preserved through violent means. The researchers also claimed that,not only violent behavior is necessary for survival in subcultures that contain a high degree of violence and deviancy, they also claimed that individuals living in these environments would be forced to carry weapons for protection and survival. These protective activities become symbolic of the willingness to participate in violence and the acceptance of violence within a subculture or environment.

Discuss the psychoanalytic theory of criminality.

The psychoanalytic theory of criminology refers to application of Freudian psychology to analysis of criminal motives and behavior. Unlike sociological accounts, it does not look at larger scale external issues such as poverty, local culture and peer pressure, but instead focuses on the specific formative childhood influences on the individual. For this reason, it does not explain why certain groups of people are more or less likely to commit crimes but instead focuses on why, for example, one child in a family might become a criminal child while other superficially similar families never get closer to criminality than an occasional parking ticket. According to some psychoanalytic models, criminals often have a minimally developed ego and this are unable to resist instant gratification. While our (prenaid?) id seeks instant gratification as people develop past childhood we normally develop a second psychological element, the ego which is a pragmatic rational engagement that guides and directs our impulses according to such things as long-term objectives, feasibility and weighing of consequences. In criminals, the ego is usually weak.

23. The official poverty rate in 2010 was lower than in 2009, and on the decline since 2007. A. True B. False

B. False

24. Biocriminology is the study of the psychological aspects of physical disorders. A. True B. False

B. False

5. The moral developmental theory was pioneered by A. Sigmund Freud. B. Lawrence Kohlberg. C. John Bowlby. D. Sheldon Glueck.

B. Lawrence Kohlberg.

10. Who introduced the subculture of violence theory? A. Shaw and Miller B. Wolfgang and Ferracuti C. Cloward and Ohlin D. Cohen

B. Wolfgang and Ferracuti

13. _____________ is the error in thinking or mistaken belief that occurs when one identifies a cause for criminal behavior and then assumes that any behavior resulting from that cause must be excused by law. A. Fundamental psycholegal error B. Fundamental criminal law error C. Fundamental criminological error D. Fundamental sociological error

A. Fundamental psycholegal error

13. Cultural deviance theorists argue that A. crime is most likely to occur among the lower social classes. B. American society is made up of various groups and subgroups, each with its own standards of right and wrong. C. people learn to commit crime as a result of contact with antisocial values, attitudes, and criminal behavior patterns. D. crime is the result of social disorganization.

B. American society is made up of various groups and subgroups, each with its own standards of right and wrong.

22. According to strain theory, individuals who choose the adaptation of innovation do not accept society's goals because they do not have legitimate means to achieve those goals. A. True B. False

B. False

22. Differential association-reinforcement theory suggests that delinquent behavior is the result of intra-group personality dynamics. A. True B. False

B. False

23. According to Miller, juvenile delinquency stems from the frustration of not meeting teachers' expectations in school. A. True B. False

B. False

15. Approximately _________ newborn males in the general population receives two Y chromosomes from his father rather than one. A. 1 in 100 B. 10 in 100 C. 1 in 1,000 D. 10 in 1,000

C. 1 in 1,000

18. How many propositions does Sutherland advance to explain the process by which the transmission of values takes place? A. 2 B. 5 C. 9 D. 15

C. 9

8. Which leading proponent of social learning theory introduced the concept of "behavior modeling"? A. Emile Durkheim B. Ronald Akers C. Albert Bandura D. Lawrence Kohlberg

C. Albert Bandura

18. Who published the first major work on the lifestyle of female gang members in New York? A. Meda Chesney-Lind B. Albert Cohen C. Anne Campbell D. Freda Adler

C. Anne Campbell

1. The structural-functionalist perspective was developed by A. Robert Agnew. B. Robert McKay. C. Robert K. Merton. D. Emile Durkheim.

C. Robert K. Merton.

17. In formulating his differential association theory, Sutherland relied heavily on the findings of _______ and _______ that delinquent values are transmitted within a community or group from one generation to the next. A. Burgess, Parks B. Merton. Agnew C. Shaw, McKay D. Messner, Rosenfeld

C. Shaw, McKay

20. Which of the following is not a biochemical factor? A. food allergies B. hypoglycemia C. brain lesions D. hormones

C. brain lesions

3. _________ boys try to make the best of bad situations, according to Cohen. A. street boys B. delinquent boys C. corner boys D. college boys

C. corner boys

10. Differential association-reinforcement theory suggests that A. persistence of criminal behavior depends on whether or not it is rewarded or punished. B. violence and aggression are learned behaviors, not necessarily expressed until they are elicited. C. delinquent behavior is learned through the same psychological processes as any other behavior. D. none of these

C. delinquent behavior is learned through the same psychological processes as any other behavior.

28. Miller posited that juvenile delinquency stems from lower-class culture and its value system. Discuss the theory and concerns regarding its implications.

There are six focal concerns. Trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, luck and autonomy. Miller did talk about cultural deviance wherein lower class culture does lead to juvenile delinquency. Being from lower class comes with its problems and strains like lower come,small house and less education which obviously lead to anger and frustration leading to such behaviours and indulging in crimes or thefts. He concluded that young males were only acting out in sharper form the established cultural traditions of wider lower class culture. He identified a number of 'focal concerns' of lower class culture: 'trouble' - constant tension between law-abiding and law-breaking behaviour; 'toughness'; 'smartness' - doing the 'right thing'; 'excitement'; 'fate' - 'you're either lucky or you aren't'; 'autonomy' -'you're on your own'. The roots of criminal behavior thus lie not in the attempt to counter middle-class values but exist as autonomous elements within lower working-class communities. Delinquency need not be seen as a solution to strain. it is the natural extension of social life in certain communities. The focal concerns that Miller outlines all have to do with the individual and how the eyes of other lower-class members perceive them, not how they are perceived by other class members. Also, the fact the focal concerns are primarily male oriented, Miller's theory does not take into account why females commit crimes. Even in reality criminals and even juvenile criminals mostly are reported from lower income families since they have their own struggles and maybe out of helplessness they indulge in these acts. It is less likely in middle and higher income groups. The need for money or even other luxuries sometimes does pushes the teenagers to the edge. And since Miller talks about perception that is very crucial. People belonging to lower class do view themselves inferior to upper income class since they do not have enough money,a big house,car or even education that can help them. The general perception is that only and also people around in the society also view lower class as lower. And this perception can lead to frustrations among young teenagers and even adults too ,to indulge in criminal behaviours.