Deck 13: Individual Traits

Question 1

Individual traits conducive to delinquency best explain:

A) low-rate, adolescence-limited offending
B) high-rate, chronic offending
C) middle-class delinquency
D) delinquency in rural areas

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following theorists would be most likely to make an argument that low verbal IQ is linked to delinquency because it promotes a concern for immediate rewards?

A) strain theorists
B) social learning theorists
C) control theorists
D) both strain and control theorists

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following characteristics are associated with individuals high in irritability?

A) heightened sensitivity to stressors or strains
B) little concern for rights and feelings of others
C) tendency to attribute problems to malicious behavior of others
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Irritability clearly relates best to which one of the following theories?

A) strain theory
B) social learning theory
C) control theory
D) routine activities theory
E) labeling theory

Question 5

Statements like "I almost always feel better when I am on the move than when I am sitting and thinking" and "When things get complicated, I tend to quit or withdraw" are used to measure:

A) low verbal IQ
B) irritability
C) low self-control
D) sensitivity to stressors or strains
E) aggressive interactional style

Question 6

Statements like "I will try to get the things I want even when I know it's causing problems for other people" and "I can get very upset when things don't go my way" are used to measure:

A) low verbal IQ
B) irritability
C) low self-control
D) sensitivity to stressors or strains
E) aggressive interactional style

Question 7

Twin studies seek to determine if:

A) identical twins are more alike in their criminal behavior than fraternal twins
B) identical twins are more criminal than fraternal twins
C) fraternal twins are more criminal than identical twins
D) adopted children are more criminal than twins

Question 8

Data from adoption and twin studies suggest that:

A) there is a gene for crime
B) genetic inheritance fully explains crime
C) genetic inheritance partly explains crime
D) genetic inheritance has no relationship to crime

Question 9

Research suggests that genetic inheritance and biological harm result in a predisposition to crime because they may:

A) reduce levels of serotonin
B) produce dysfunction in the frontal lobe of the brain
C) cause an underarousal of the autonomic nervous system
D) all of the above

Question 10

According to Agnew and Brezina, the effects of early family environment on traits conducive to crime:

A) are less likely to develop when parents develop a strong emotional bond with their children
B) are almost entirely a function of genetic inheritance and/or biological harm
C) depend on the age and marital status of the parents
D) all of the above

Question 11

Which of the following statements is correct?

A) Individual traits affect the social environment.
B) The social environment affects individual traits.
C) Individual traits and the social environment interact to affect crime.
D) all of the above

Question 12

According to the textbook, clusters of related traits are sometimes called:

A) power-traits
B) cluster-variables
C) super-traits
D) group-variables

Question 13

The relationship between _________ and delinquency has not yet been explained away by "third variables."

A) a low metabolism
B) a low resting heart rate
C) underarousal in the central nervous system
D) smoking

Question 14

Underarousal in the autonomic nervous system has been linked to traits such as:

A) low dopamine production
B) high serotonin levels
C) sensation seeking
D) perseverance

Question 15

Which of the following is a super-trait?

A) impulsivity
B) low self-control
C) low verbal IQ
D) risk seeing
E) all of the above

Question 16

Individuals with low verbal scores have trouble:

A) expressing themselves
B) discarding information
C) performing simple tasks
D) none of the above

Question 17

Molecular genetic studies are finding that _______________ conditions (or shapes) the influence of genes on antisocial behavior.

A) the environment
B) super-traits
C) biological harms
D) the exposure to toxic substances

Question 18

There is evidence that major mental illness has _______ effect on violence.

A) a small
B) a modest
C) a large
D) no

Question 19

Major mental illness is more likely to lead to violence when accompanied by:

A) substance abuse
B) treatment noncompliance
C) the failure to take prescribed medication
D) all of the above

Question 20

As discussed in the text, another aspect of the social environment that may impact traits and delinquent behavior is:

A) Type of housing (e.g., apartment, house, trailer)
B) Exposure to violence
C) Failure to attend daycare
D) Lack of animal exposure

Question 21

What are individual traits?

Question 22

Identify two "super-traits" discussed in the text and describe the more specific traits that comprise each "super-trait."

Question 23

Identify a "super-trait" and the more specific traits associated with the identified "super-trait." Write two questions for each specific trait that could be asked of juveniles (or their parents or teachers) to determine whether they are high or low in the "super-trait."

Question 24

Explain the effect of low verbal IQ on delinquency using the leading delinquency theories.

Question 25

Indicate how a control theorist would explain the fact that individuals high in irritability are more likely to become delinquent.

Question 26

Indicate how a control theorist would explain the fact that individuals low in self-control are more likely to become delinquent.

Question 27

Select the theory that you believe best explains the association between irritability and delinquency. Defend your choice.

Question 28

Why are juveniles who have low verbal IQ more likely to engage in delinquency?

Question 29

Explain the effect of "amoral beliefs" on delinquency using the leading delinquency theories.

Question 30

Briefly explain how genetic factors and biological harm create a predisposition for crime.

Question 31

Explain how twin and adoption studies are used to study genetic effects on crime. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of these studies.

Question 32

List three types of biological harm that are linked to subsequent crime.

Question 33

Describe two ways in which genetic inheritance and biological harm may affect the central and autonomic nervous systems.

Question 34

Describe how environmental factors lead to traits conducive to delinquency.

Question 35

What can parents do to reduce the likelihood that their children will develop traits conducive to crime?

Question 36

Describe how individual traits may condition the effect of environmental factors on crime. Give two examples of this conditioning effect.

Question 37

Given the ideas presented in Chapter 13, how should we respond to delinquency? Should juveniles with "super-traits" be more closely supervised than youth who do not demonstrate such traits? When responding to delinquent acts, should individual traits be considered? What is the responsibility of the individual who has traits conducive to delinquency when he or she engages in delinquent acts?

Question 38

The textbook mentions that mental health experts have described the juvenile justice system as "a system in crisis." What are the reasons that the textbook mentions for describing the juvenile justice system as being in crisis? Can you think of any additional reasons?

Question 39

One biological factor that has been linked to delinquency in numerous studies is a low resting heart rate. Describe the association between a low resting heart rate and delinquency.

Question 40

Are traits primarily a function of the social environment or biological factors? Explain your answer and provide examples of traits to support your position.

Question 41

What are molecular genetic studies?

Question 42

What would be an ideal social program that would help to change or prevent the development of traits conducive to crime among juveniles?

Question 43

How does exposure to violence affect one's involvement in delinquency?