Exam 3: Causes of Delinquency: Rational Choice and Individual Explanations

Personality characteristics and individual differences in learning are the major emphases of psychological explanations of delinquency.

The logical response to crime as a rational behavior is tougher punishment as a deterrent.

Moral development theories of delinquency focus on how children learn social rules and make judgments on the basis of those rules.

Cesare Lombroso described certain characteristics of a criminal, which he called:

The rational choice theory assumes that offenders make decisions and choices to maximize the benefits of the crime and avoid the risks.

In studying the effects of learning disabilities have on delinquency we consider lower levels of intelligence, visual handicaps, and emotional disturbance.

What are William Sheldon's three human physique types?

The differential treatment hypothesis is backed by studies that show that a _______proportion of learning disabled children are arrested and incarcerated.

The psychological theory links delinquency to social changes that increase the opportunities for crime.

Behaviorism's major premise is:

Who found that some juveniles in training schools were what he called "feebleminded"?

Sigmund Freud suggested that juvenile delinquents had trouble conforming to ________ expectations because they had not developed a health superego.

Juvenile delinquency may be caused by:

A major strength of psychodynamic theory is:

List the three variables associated with "routine activities" of everyday life used to explain the "routine activity approach" to delinquency. Give an example of each variable.

Studies conducted by criminologists have not clearly demonstrated that alcohol and drug use is a cause of crime and delinquent behavior.

It may be that youths with learning disabilities(LD) are not involved with delinquent behavior more than youths without LD, but they are more likely to get caught and arrested.

What is the percentage of children in the general population with a learning disability?

Which one of the following is the best example of specific deterrence?

Rather than viewing criminal behavior as a product of nature, it seems preferable to examine the relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences.