Deck 18: Pulling It All Together

Question 1

The relationship between delinquency and association with a delinquent peer group can be explained best from a ________ perspective.

A) social learning
B) strain
C) control
D) labeling

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which theory would most likely recommend instruction in relaxation techniques as a strategy to reduce delinquency?

A) control theory
B) social learning theory
C) strain theory
D) social disorganization theory

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following has (have) a moderate to large effect on serious delinquency?

A) low academic performance
B) irritability
C) lack of religion
D) all of the above

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Juveniles with individual traits of irritability/low self-control are more likely to engage in delinquency because they are:

A) higher in strain
B) more likely to learn to engage in crime
C) more disposed to cope with strain in a delinquent manner
D) more likely to be labeled as "bad"
E) all of the above

Question 5

A general theory should do which of the following?

A) describe how the causes of delinquency relate to one another
B) integrate as many different theories as possible
C) identify all possible causes of delinquency
D) all of the above

Question 6

Which of the following illustrates a reciprocal effect?

A) X causes Y, and Y causes Z
B) X causes Y, but Y does not cause X
C) X causes Y, and Y causes X
D) Both X and Y cause Z

Question 7

The reciprocal effects of clusters on one another:

A) are well supported with extensive research
B) have little support despite extensive research
C) have some support based on limited research
D) have no support because no researcher has examined this issue

Question 8

Agnew and Brezina discuss background variables that both directly and indirectly affect traits of irritability/low self-control, poor parenting practices, negative school experiences, and delinquent peer associations. These include:

A) gender
B) age
C) parental social class
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 9

The primary reason why race/ethnicity is associated with the clusters is that African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans:

A) encounter more racial discrimination than Whites
B) perpetuate a culture of violence
C) are more likely to be poor and live in deprived communities
D) have a genetic predisposition to develop such clusters

Question 10

Evidence of the role of biological factors in explaining sex differences in individual traits and offending includes sex-related differences in:

A) temperament at birth
B) curiosity at a young age
C) competitiveness as early as elementary school years
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 11

Meda Chesney-Lind argues that _____________ plays a special role in the explanation of female delinquency.

A) lack of parental control
B) abuse by family members
C) equal opportunity
D) association with delinquent peers
E) religion

Question 12

Males have higher rates of delinquency than females, as it is argued that males:

A) are less attached to family members
B) do less well in school
C) are more likely to associate with delinquent peers
D) all of the above

Question 13

According to the textbook, males are more likely than females to be socialized to be:

A) responsible
B) independent
C) decisive
D) all of the above

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT one of the four clusters described by Agnew and Brezina?

A) Irritability/low self-control
B) Poor parenting practices
C) Biological harms
D) Negative school experiences
E) Peer delinquency

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major life domains described by Agnew and Brezina?

A) self (individual traits)
B) family
C) school
D) work
E) peers

Question 16

Most individuals increase their levels of offending during adolescence, and they do so because the biological and social changes associated with adolescence lead to:

A) increases in strain
B) reductions in control
C) increases in the social learning for crime
D) all of the above

Question 17

A small percentage of individuals offend at high rates over much of their lives because:

A) they experience poor parenting
B) they develop the traits of irritability/low self-control early in life
C) problems associated with poor parenting and traits tend to persist over time
D) all of the above

Question 18

Situations most conducive to delinquency include:

A) when a juvenile is provoked by others
B) when a juvenile is at the mall
C) when a juvenile is surrounding by conventional peers
D) when a juvenile suffers a biological harm

Question 19

Which of the following statements regarding group difference in delinquency is TRUE?

A) Certain group characteristics beyond those reflected in the four clusters do not have an effect on delinquency.
B) Group differences in the four clusters largely fail to account for group differences in delinquency.
C) Group differences in delinquency are largely due to the fact that members of some groups are more likely to score high on the clusters.
D) None of the above

Question 20

Sex differences in irritability/low self-control and offending are suggested by several pieces of evidence, including:

A) differences in temperament noted at birth
B) differences in physical aggression and crime emerge very early in life
C) males are more involved than females in most forms of physical aggression and crime
D) all of the above

Question 21

Concisely explain the causes of delinquency according to the major theories of delinquency.

Question 22

List those factors that have relatively large, direct effects on individual delinquency and explain why these factors affect delinquency.

Question 23

Describe the four clusters of variables affecting individual delinquency.

Question 24

Use the leading theories to explain why individuals with the super-traits of irritability/low self-control are more likely to engage in delinquency.

Question 25

What dimensions are measured to assess "poor parenting practices"? Explain the relationship between a high score on each of the dimensions of poor parenting and delinquency.

Question 26

Describe dimensions of the "negative school experience" cluster. Use control theory to examine the relationship of an overall measure of negative school experience.

Question 27

Develop a model that illustrates the reciprocal causal effect of three clusters on one another. Predict the relative degree (small versus large) of the effects and explain.

Question 28

Agnew and Brezina state: "Engaging in delinquency may also directly increase the likelihood of further delinquency." Explain this statement by describing these effects and indicating when they are most likely to occur.

Question 29

Variables may have both a direct effect and an indirect effect on delinquency. Give examples of each type of effect.

Question 30

Discuss the two sets of "background" variables that have substantial effects on the four clusters discussed in Chapter 18. In your answer be sure to identify the background variables and indicate how these variables directly and indirectly affect clusters.

Question 31

Explain the association between race/ethnicity and the clusters affecting individual delinquency.

Question 32

Discuss the consequences of an increasing lack of decent work at a "living wage" on clusters affecting individual delinquency.

Question 33

Develop a causal model that lists important causes of delinquency and shows the relationship of these variables to one another and to delinquency.

Question 34

Describe one way in which your model might have to be modified if it were applied to a particular group (e.g., females, life-course persistent offenders) or type of delinquency (e.g., running away from home, gang violence).

Question 35

Based on your reading of Chapter 18, develop a general theory of delinquency. In your answer address the following key components:
a. clusters strongly associated with delinquency
b. reciprocal effects of the clusters on one another
c. effect of delinquency on likelihood of further delinquency
d. background variables that affect the clusters

Question 36

Examine how this general theory explains (a) patterns of offending over the life course and (b) gender differences in delinquency. Provide examples to illustrate your points.

Question 37

Develop a theory to explain gender differences in delinquency. Pay particular attention to the relationship between abuse by family members and female delinquency.

Question 38

Develop a causal model for a general theory of adolescence-limited offending that includes the following:
major direct causes of adolescent-limited delinquency
reciprocal effects
effects of delinquency on future delinquency
background variables

Question 39

What are the benefits of developing an integrated theory? Why would criminologists attempt to do this? What are the disadvantages of an integrated theory?

Question 40

In your own opinion, do you think that the development of integrated theories is important for the field of criminology, or do you think that it is better for theories to be developed separately? Defend your position.

Question 41

Chapter 18 highlights the fact that up until this point, we have discussed a number of different theories of delinquency. Pick your "favorite" theory that we have discussed so far and describe this theory to the best of your ability. What are the main assumptions of the theory? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the theory?