Exam 12: Group Differences in Delinquency

Data suggest that much or all of the association between race and community crime rates is due to third variables like:

The textbook notes that several criminologists have argued that researchers should consider not only the extent to which community residents are poor but also the extent to which they are advantaged. What do Agnew and Brezina mean by the term "advantaged"? Do advantaged residents typically increase or decrease the level of crime in communities? Why?

The delinquency of individuals who seek revenge to manage negative emotions can best be explained by:

Economic deprivation is one of the key characteristics of high-crime communities. Use any one of the leading delinquency theories to explain why economic deprivation increases the likelihood of crime.

Discuss benefits of studying crime rates across communities. What are the benefits of the community as the unit of analysis as opposed to the individual as the unit of analysis?

According to Agnew and Brezina, one major cause of family disruption is:

Describe three characteristics of high-crime neighborhoods.

A decline in the number of _______ jobs has helped create conditions leading to an increase in the number of high-poverty communities during the past few decades.

Explain the reciprocal relationship between community crime rates and community characteristics.

High-crime communities tend to have a higher percentage of African American residents. Explain why data suggest that the percentage of African American residents in a community does not have a causal effect on crime rates.

The delinquency of unrestrained individuals who freely satisfy their needs and desires in the most expedient ways possible can best be explained by:

Neighborhoods with extremely high levels of poverty are characterized as having ____ or more of the residents below the poverty line.

A distinguishing characteristic of high-crime cities and neighborhoods is:

Within deprived communities, juveniles may develop "beliefs favorable to delinquency." An example given in the text is:

Generally speaking, urban communities have higher crime rates than:

In Carr et al.'s (2007) study of three high-crime communities in Philadelphia, over 60% of the young people expressed negative views of the police. Why would this be? Provide some examples.

Indicate how the characteristics of deprived communities reduce the ability and willingness of residents to exercise effective control. In your answer address different forms of control and provide examples to illustrate your points.

According to Agnew and Brezina: "We have witnessed a long-term historical trend toward the increasing concentration of poverty, with more high-poverty neighborhoods, and more people living in these neighborhoods." Discuss the reasons provided in the text for this long-term trend.

How might strain theory partly explain the development of beliefs favorable to delinquency in deprived neighborhoods?

According to Agnew and Brezina, males living in high-crime communities are less able to achieve the goal of ____________ through conventional means.