Exam One: Crime in America

Which of the following is most likely to lead to a decline in prison populations? A.)A state adopts a strategy of selective incapacitation B.)A state passes a new truth in sentencing law C.)A state experiences high levels of displacement D.)A state adopts a determinate sentencing strategy

A state adopts a strategy of selective incapacitation

Which of the following statements would a sociobiologist most likely consider to be true? A.)Territoriality primarily explains violence and aggressiveness towards strangers, rather than intragroup aggression. B.)All human behavior, even rational thought, results from instinctual aspects of biology. C.)The role of altruism in ensuring the continuity of the gene pool of a species is limited. D.)Aggression creates concentrated pockets of animals of a particular species over an inhabitable area.

All human behavior, even rational thought, results from instinctual aspects of biology.

which of the following is NOT a form of psychopathology? A.) Schizophrenia B.) Alcoholism C.) Depression D.) All the above are forms of psychopathology

All the above are forms of psychopathology

Which statement best describes the relevance of altruism to sociobiological theory? A.)Altruism is viewed as having a role in the proliferation of street gangs and is responsible for racial tensions and resilience of ethnic divide. B.)Altruism plays a role in ensuring the survival and continuity of the gene pool in a species. C.)Altruism developed during early stages of human evolution to create separate classes of "hunters" and "gatherers" among early humans. D.)Altruism explains the perpetuation of conflict and aggression between and among species.

Altruism plays a role in ensuring the survival and continuity of the gene pool in a species.

Andrew, a criminologist, in engaged in research and concludes that men with high levels of testosterone are more likely to commit crimes. However, he is unable to explain why some men with high testosterone levels do not commit crimes. Andrew's research exemplifies..

Biological and biosocial theories fail to accurately predict criminality while purporting to understand its causes.

Given the criticisms of early biological theories of criminal behavior, which statement would be most appropriate for a biological criminologist today to make? A.)Behavior is determined by inherent features. B.)A specific biological feature can be linked to criminal behavior. C.)Biological features are not the direct cause of crime. D.)Crime can be explained through genetic determinism.

Biological features are not the direct cause of crime.

Which of the following individuals is exhibiting behavior that could most likely be attributed to a dysregulation of the hormone serotonin in the brain? A.)Larry has frequent episodes of hypoglycemia and often faints. B.)Brad often acts impulsively and irresponsibly. C.)Francis tends to be coldhearted and stingy towards both family and strangers and does not tend to trust others. D.)Jeff is usually able to remain calm under pressure and frustration.

Brad often acts impulsively and irresponsibly.

Which of the following research findings would best support the notion of atavism? A.)Carlo studies incarcerated male offenders and concludes that their facial features differ from those of non-criminals. B.)Phyllis finds that a significant percentage of male offenders who are incarcerated for first-degree murder have an extra Y chromosome. C.)Wilson finds that violent offenders are more likely than non-offenders to be extremely strong and athletic. D.)Mustafa finds that twins who were separated at birth exhibit similar levels of criminal behavior.

Carlo studies incarcerated male offenders and concludes that their facial features differ from those of non-criminals.

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

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.

Josh studies a group of people for a period of one year and concludes that the cause of crimes among the group was due to the uneven distribution of wealth among them. In this case, Josh's conclusion most closely relates to which sociological explanation of crime?

Conflict theories

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? A.) Facial features B.) Environmental contaminants C.)Body type D.)Heredity

Environmental contaminants

the emotional intelligence paradigm results from the combination of a rational offender and a rational justice system (TRUE OR FLASE)

False

Sam, a psychologist, conducts brain scans of a number of at risk youth. Which of the following does Sam consider to be most at risk of engaging in violent behavior? A.)Andy, whose brain scan shows high levels of activity in the anterior cingulate cortex. B.)Brian, whose brain scan shows a large an abundance of functional mirror cells. C.)Jeff, whose brain scan shows high monoamine oxidase A activity. D.)Frank, whose brain scan shows lower levels of glucose uptake in the prefrontal cortex.

Frank, whose brain scan shows lower levels of glucose uptake in the prefrontal cortex.

George recently participated in genetic testing and has been found to possess the 10R allele. Which of the following is most likely to be true about George based on this genetic information? A.)George probably avoids any involvement in crime B.)George probably does poorly at school C.)George is probably promiscuous D.)George is probably shy and introverted

George is probably promiscuous

Official statistics show that crime in the U.S. has decreased during the past two decades. Victor claims that modern neoclassical approaches to crime control are responsible for the decline. Which of the following statements is Victor most likely to make to support his claim?

Get tough on crime policies have led to a substantial decrease in official rates of crime over the past 20 years.

Which of the following individuals is engaged in research in the area of psychobiotics? A.)Saul, who is studying the relationship between resting heart rate on criminality among young adults. B.)Alex, who is examining how physical damage to various parts of the brain can affect behavior. C.)Graham, who is studying the influence of bacteria in the digestive system on emotions and behavior. D,)Liam, who is examining the relationship between the male reproductive strategy and the propensity for crime commission.

Graham, who is studying the influence of bacteria in the digestive system on emotions and behavior.

Gregory is 16 years old and the only son of a notorious mob enforcer. His friends are low-level offenders. One night, Gregory is caught joyriding with his friends. According to the standard social science model (SSSM), which of the following statements best explains Gregory's actions? A.)Gregory became involved in crime because he inherited a genetic predisposition to crime from his father. B.)Gregory is a born criminal. C.)Gregory became involved in crime because he is influenced by his family and friends D.)Gregory became involved in crime because he possesses a thrill-seeking gene.

Gregory became involved in crime because he is influenced by his family and friends

What concept is expressed by GxE?

GxE is a formula that highlights the interaction of genes and the environment.

What were Cesare Beccaria's views regarding crime and punishment?

He believed that punishment should be only severe enough to outweigh the personal benefits obtained from the crime

Which of the following best describes hedonistic calculus?

Hedonistic calculus emphasizes the worth an action has for the individual undertaking it. (maximize pleasure and happiness and minimize pain)

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

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 of the following questions would be most likely to be asked by a researcher testing a social structure theory? A.)How does the distribution of wealth within society and the ownership of the means of production affect crime? B.)How does one's level of self-control affect the likelihood of involvement in crime? C.)How do deviant subcultures affect the likelihood of crime? D.)How does the strength of an individual's bond to society affect crime?

How do deviant subcultures affect the likelihood of crime?

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.

Thomas has been charged with home burglary, but his trial is delayed for nearly a year due to court delays and continuances. He is convicted and is sentenced to six months in jail, although the typical sentence for this crime is two years in prison. After Thomas serves his time in jail, he continues to commit similar crimes. Which of the following would have been most likely to deter Thomas? A.) If Thomas had been able to appeal his conviction. B.)If Thomas had been released from jail early due to good behavior. C.)If the proceedings had continued for a longer period of time in order to determine the appropriate punishment. D.)If the court had imposed the typical sentence for home burglary.

If the court had imposed the typical sentence for home burglary.

Mark has a long history of burglary and theft. After his latest conviction, the judge sentences him to 15 years in prison, justifying the long sentence by stating that keeping Mark in prison for such a long time will protect the community by reducing the likelihood that Mark will be able to commit future offenses. The judge's justification is based on ________.

Incapacitation

the concept of social relativity is

Interpretation of social events by the initiator, observe and the recipient

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

In the context of the death penalty, which of the following arguments best reflects the retentionist position? A.)Discrimination B.)Expense C.)Just deserts D.)Arbitrariness

Just deserts

Based on the research conducted by Wilson and Herrnstein, which of the following individuals would be most at-risk of involvement in criminal behavior? A.)Mark is 16 years old. He is male and is on the honor role. He works out regularly but is somewhat overweight. B.)Mark is 16 years old. He is male and is on the honor role. He works out regularly but is somewhat overweight. C.)Lucy is 19 years old. She is female and dropped out of school when she was 16. She is thin and small for her age. D.)Liam is 17 years old. He is male, plays football, and is failing many of his high school classes.

Liam is 17 years old. He is male, plays football, and is failing many of his high school classes.

Which of the following examples best illustrates Jack Katz's view of the seductions of crime? A.)Sandeep is arrested for armed robbery. In court, he argues that he committed the crime because he is genetically predisposed to violence and therefore he is not responsible for his actions. B.) Mike is running for the state legislature. His campaign centers around calls for the state to get tough on crime. Mike argues that prisons should not attempt to rehabilitate offenders but to punish them for their decision to commit crime. C.)Louisa, a corporate accountant who earns over a million dollars a year, is caught in the act of shoplifting from Wal-Mart. She pled guilty and told the judge that she could easily afford to purchase the items she had taken, but that stealing them was more exciting D.)Knowing that Jake and Sarah are going on vacation for a week, Lucas plans to break into their home to steal their valuables. However, he changes his mind when he discovers that Sarah's parents are staying in the house while the couple is away.

Louisa, a corporate accountant who earns over a million dollars a year, is caught in the act of shoplifting from Wal-Mart. She pled guilty and told the judge that she could easily afford to purchase the items she had taken, but that stealing them was more exciting.

Which of the following conditions has been linked to antisocial behavior?

Low digit ratios

Thea, the mayor of Highland takes a classical approach to the problem of crime. However, after a media appearance, she is criticized by Luke, a political opponent. Which of the following is most likely to be the basis for Luke's criticism? A.)Luke claims that Thea overemphasizes the importance of human biology when discussing the causes of crime in the community. B.)Luke may assert that Thea overemphasizes the importance of factors such as a poor home environment when discussing the causes of crime in the community. C.)Luke claims that Thea overemphasizes factors, such as inadequate socialization when discussing the causes of crime in the community. D.)Luke claims that Thea overemphasizes the importance of individual choice when discussing the causes of crime in the community.

Luke claims that Thea overemphasizes the importance of individual choice when discussing the causes of crime in the community.

the ___ holds that individuals cannot be held criminally responsible for their actions if at the time of the crime they did not know what they were doing or did not know that their actions were wrong

M'Naughten Rule

According to William H. Sheldon, which body type is most likely to be associated with criminality?

Mesomorph

Which of the following statements regarding modern biological theories is true? A.)Modern biological theories tend to be relatively simplistic in their approach to explaining human behavior and crime. B.)Modern biological theories tend to view genes as facilitators of behavior. C.)Modern biological theories consider free will and external forces to be the primary causes of behavior. D.)Modern biological theories tend to see biological features as determinants of behavior.

Modern biological theories tend to view genes as facilitators of behavior.

what is an annual survey of the selected American households conducted by the BJS to determine the extent of criminal victimization especially unreported victimization in the US

NCVS

Based on research into links between body chemistry and criminality, which of the following boys is most likely to be engaged in aggressive and criminal behavior? A.)Rick, who has a moderate blood sugar level B.)Nick, who was exposed to marijuana prenatally C.)Jake, who mostly consumes food rich in omega-3 fatty acids D.)Cody, whose testosterone levels in blood are low

Nick, who was exposed to marijuana prenatally

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? A.)Oscar states that African Americans make up about 12% of the U.S. population but about 34% of all executed offenders. B.)While a large number of black defendants have been executed for the murder of white victims since 1976, only one has involved a white defendant executed for the murder of a black person. C.)Oscar states that 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. D.)Oscar states that while it is true that about 50% of those on death row are racial minorities, these minorities represent about 50% of the population of the U.S.

Oscar states that 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.

Which of the following studies involves epigenetics? A.)Rachel studies how environmental conditions can affect the activity of specific parts of the genome. B.)Mike studies how much the variation in hair color of a local population is due to genetic factors. C.)Jennifer studies the ways in which the human brain changes in response to physical trauma. D.)Carl studies the ways in which nucleotide units form chains of nucleic acids that constitute DNA.

Rachel studies how environmental conditions can affect the activity of specific parts of the genome.

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.

Joan steals Fred's wallet, expecting to find several hundred dollars as well as a number of credit cards. To Joan's surprise, the wallet contains only a few dollars and some old receipts. Joan is arrested and convicted of theft. Based on Beccaria's views of crime and punishment, which punishment would be most appropriate?

Six months in jail

According to C. Ray Jeffery, 20th century criminology was based on which other discipline?

Sociology

Sonja 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 Sonja's study?

Somatotyping

Which of the following children is most likely to engage in antisocial behavior in adulthood? A.)Anne, who is not a victim of parental abuse and who has high MAO-A activity. B.)Charlie, who is frequently abused by his father and who has high MAO-A activity C.)Steffi, who is often abused by her father and who has low MAO-A activity. D.)Tom, who is not a victim of child abuse and who has low MAO-A activity.

Steffi, who is often abused by her father and who has low MAO-A activity

Which of the following statements regarding supermales is true? A.)Supermales have an additional Y chromosome. B.)Supermales commit crimes of greater violence than other male offenders. C.)The majority of male prisoners are supermales. D.)Men who carry an additional X chromosome may be considered supermales.

Supermales have an additional Y chromosome.

The rivalry between two large Chicago street gangs 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

Edwin Sutherland

The Father of American Criminology

Which of the following best explains the link between hypoglycemia and murder? A.)The increase in monoamine oxidase A activity causes neural hyperreactivity. B.)Control over impulsive behavior is reduced due to neurotoxicity. C.)The mind's ability to reason effectively is impaired due to the increased amount of insulin in the blood D.)The decreased dopamine function drives individuals to engage in violent activities

The mind's ability to reason effectively is impaired due to the increased amount of insulin in the blood

Which of the following is a major principle of sociological theories of crime? A.)The proper focus for criminological study is the individual. B.)The probability that members of a group will engage in a specific type of crime can be estimated. C.)It is possible to predict the specific behavior of a given individual. D.)The relative degree of organization of a society is of limited importance when explaining criminal behavior.

The probability that members of a group will engage in a specific type of crime can be estimated

Which of the following is a key theme of phrenology, as proposed by Franz Joseph Gall? A.)Criminals are physiological throwbacks to earlier stages of human evolution. B.)The shape of the skull corresponds to the shape of the brain and indicates personality. C.)Genes are the major determining factor in human behavior. D.)Criminal behavior is inherited.

The shape of the skull corresponds to the shape of the brain and indicates personality.

Which of the following best supports the use of selective incapacitation as a crime-control strategy?

Three-strikes laws focus on incarcerating offenders who are chronic recidivists.

Alfred is sentenced to 10 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Although he is a model prisoner, Alfred is required to serve at least eight years before he is eligible for parole. Which of the following is most likely responsible for this?

Truth in sentencing. In this situation he cannot be considered for release until he has served at least 80% of his sentence, despite good behavior.

criminology is more than just a field of study or collection of theories; it is also what?

a profession

NCVS

an annual survey of criminal victimization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. Interviews people from randomly selected US households and gathers information not available through the UCR including the context of a crime, and the characteristics of crime victims.

UCR

an official crime data gathering program covering the entire US

constitutional theories explain criminality by reference to an offender's

body type

The work by Caspi and Moffit produced a model of gene-environment interaction that identified ____________ as a universal risk factor for adult antisocial behavior.

childhood maltreatment

A specialist in the collection and examination of the physical evidence of crime is

criminalists

Raj is hired to work in a law firm and is expected to dress well for work. However, he cannot always afford new clothes, so he occasionally resorts to shoplifting. Cesare Lombroso would most likely consider Raj to be a(n) ________.

criminaloid

Both Bill and Tom have been convicted of burglary and have both been sentenced to a term of five years in prison, although they are told that they may be eligible for early release based on good behavior while in prison. This is an example of ________.

determinate sentencing

Gary, the town mayor, is a proponent of situational choice theory. He is focusing on reducing opportunities for crime by improving the lighting in the town, increasing the number of police officers on patrol, and installing CCTV cameras throughout the community. He is pleased to announce a dramatic decrease in the town's crime rate. However, the media reports that a neighboring town is experiencing an increase in crime. This rise in crime could be an example of ________.

displacement

Sally 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

Maya is researching the family history of two famous brothers who were convicted of murder. She discovers that their father was also a convicted murderer, their mother had several convictions for household burglary, and their maternal grandparents were bank robbers. Based on this, Maya claims that the brothers' involvement in crime is inherited. Maya's claim is based on the concept of ________.

eugenic criminology

Liam claims that men subconsciously engage in aggressive behavior in order to attract women. Liam's claim, which links aggression to reproduction, is best explained by ________.

evolutionary neuroandrogenic theory

In the modern day criminal justice system punishment's are swiftly imposed. (TRUE OR FASLE)

false

biological theories of crime based on chemical and environmental factors accept the role of free will in crime commission (TRUE OR FALSE)

false

most contemporary criminologists operate from a biological perspective (TRUE OR FASLE)

false

police officers are best described as criminist (TRUE OR FALSE)

false

researchers generally find that murder rates are lower in states that have capital punishment than in states that have eliminated the death penalty. (TRUE OR FALSE)

false

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

criminalist

gathers and examines physical evidence at crime scenes. Examples: crime scene photographers, crime technicians, fingerprint experts, ballistics

the single most consistent predictor of criminality is

gender

Advocates of capital punishment argue that it may deter others. This claim focuses on the concept of ______________.

general deterrence

a ____ of crime is one that attempts to explain most forms of criminal conduct through a single, overarching approach

general theory

Jason argues that career criminals and mentally handicapped individuals should not be allowed to have 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

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

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

Kate is apathetic by nature, a trait that she shares with her mother. This passing of traits from Kate's mother to Kate is known as ________.

heredity

what is crime?

human conduct that violates the criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction that has the power to make and enforce the laws

criminologist

one who studies crime, criminals, and criminal behavior Examples: theory constructor, public advocate, social policy creator

the belief that crime is the results of criteria that have been built into the law by political groups would fit more closely with what perspective?

pluralist

NIBRS

provide(s) more complete and detailed information about crime than do the summary statistics of the traditional UCR system.

Clay has decided to embezzle from his employers. He believes that they will not notice the theft and that the risk of getting caught is minimal. He also believes that the extra money will greatly benefit him. Clay's crime is best explained by ________.

rational choice theory

Zachary is planning to steal his neighbor's motorcycle. However, after seeing a TV news story that discusses the punishments imposed for various crimes, including motor vehicle theft, he changes his mind about committing the crime. Zachary's actions are best explained by ________________.

rational choice theory

individuals commit crime when the benefits outweigh the costs of disobeying the law

rational choice theory

Ted works at a large state prison and decides to track all offenders released during a single year. He discovers that 53% of these offenders were rearrested for a new crime within the next five years. Ted has calculated the ________ rate.

recidivism

which of the following is not one of the five objectives of situational crime prevention? A.)remove the excuses that facilitate criminal activity B.)reducing the risks associated with crime C.)increasing the effort involved in committing a crime D.)reducing the rewards of crime

reducing the risks associated with crime

According to Franz Joseph Gall, the shape of the ______________ can be used to predict criminality.

skull

Because Oscar is concerned that his shop will be burgled, he installs a burglar alarm and CCTV cameras. Oscar's actions are an example of ______________.

target hardening

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

How would Jeremy Bentham explain the failure of the death penalty to affect the rate of murder in our society?

the death penalty is not swift and certain

the pluralist view of criminology recognizes

the importance of diversity in our society

Lombroso classified alcoholics and drug addicts as ____________.

the insane

According to Ellis and Walsh, there are probably no genes for criminal behavior. (TRUE OR FALSE)

true

Deviant behavior is the activity that violates social norms (TRUE OR FLASE)

true