Deck 3: Theories of Crime and Measuring Victimization

Question 1

Until the 18th century, what was thought to be the cause of criminal behavior?

A) sociological factors
B) cultural factors
C) supernatural forces
D) psychological forces

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Cesare Lombroso used which term to describe characteristics of offenders?

A) atavistic
B) anomie
C) mesomorph
D) stigmata

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following did Robert Merton argue might cause normlessness?

A) racial homogeny
B) social change
C) poverty
D) economic opportunity

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A person argues that criminal behavior occurs in communities with high population turnover and weakened core social institutions, such as poor schools. With which theory is this person most aligned?

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

Question 5

Which refers to the presence of both natural and socialize criminogenic factors as a contributing factor to criminal behavior?

A) hierarchy rule
B) routine activity theory
C) social conflict theory
D) dual hazard prediction

Question 6

Which of the following statements reflects beliefs of the classical school of criminology?

A) People who commit criminal acts are possessed by supernatural forces.
B) People who are more intelligent are less likely to engage in criminal behavior.
C) Criminal behavior is caused by few opportunities for prosperity.
D) Criminal behavior is rational, and all people have the capacity to engage in criminal acts.

Question 7

Which of the following theories are also referred to as life-course criminology?

A) social conflict theories
B) developmental theories
C) learning theories
D) positivist theories

Question 8

Which theorist criticized the injustices in and arbitrariness of the administration of law and punishment and encouraged reforms to make laws more consistent and rational?

A) Lombroso
B) Beccaria
C) Bentham
D) Comte

Question 9

Which theorist is credited as the father of criminology.

A) Lombroso
B) Beccaria
C) Bentham
D) Comte

Question 10

Which type of theorists argue that criminal behavior is related to culture and social class?

A) critical theorists
B) control theorists
C) conflict theorists
D) social structure theorists

Question 11

Which of the following traits did biologists once believe was caused by a "criminal" chromosome?

A) aggressive behavior
B) short stature
C) gregariousness
D) hormonal imbalances

Question 12

Which of the following have researchers relied on to study the affect of nature and nurture on criminal behavior?

A) crime statistics
B) IQ tests
C) victimization surveys
D) adoption studies

Question 13

Theorists from which school sought to determine basic causes of crime, had strong faith in scientific experts, and believed in rehabilitating offenders rather than punishing them?

A) classical
B) neoclassical
C) Chicago
D) positivist

Question 14

The two major schools of criminological thought are classical and ______.

A) social economy
B) learned behavior
C) positivism
D) biological evolutionism

Question 15

Which of the following traits has research from the past two decades linked to criminal behavior?

A) high IQ level
B) high birth weight
C) deficit in frontal lobe brain region
D) deficit in ability to cope with stress

Question 16

Which of the following describes how socialization may impact a person's propensity to engage in criminal behavior?

A) A boy's biological parents engaged in crime, and he does as well.
B) A boy's biological parents did not engage in crime, and he does not either.
C) A boy's biological parents engaged in criminal activity, but his adoptive parents did not. He engages in criminal activity.
D) A boy's biological parents did not engage in criminal activity, but his adoptive parents diD. He engages in criminal activity.

Question 17

Studying criminology can be helpful in determining ways to______.

A) understand human nature
B) apprehend criminals
C) increase rates of arrest
D) deter crime

Question 18

Which of the following terms is used to describe frameworks consisting of a group of theories that propose similar explanation for a particular type of behavior?

A) positivism
B) feminism
C) theoretical paradigm
D) strain theory

Question 19

A girl is adopted at birth. Shortly after the girl is adopted, one of her adopted parents is laid off. Because they are stressed, her adoptive parents begin to be verbally and physically abusive. When the girl becomes an adult, she becomes a pharmacy technician and begins to use and sell prescription drugs illegally. Eventually, she seeks out contact with her biological parents and finds they have both been imprisoned due to illegal drug use and trafficking. What does this exemplify?

A) dual hazard prediction
B) social strain theory
C) existence of atavistic features
D) labeling theory

Question 20

According to theorists in the classical school of criminology, what purpose does punishment serve?

A) to avenge those hurt by criminal behavior
B) to deter criminal behavior
C) to rehabilitate criminals
D) to provide harsh consequences to violent offenders

Question 21

Social bond theory proposes that criminal behavior can be deterred when people have strong bonds with ______.

A) family
B) natural instincts
C) self-concept
D) incarcerated individuals

Question 22

Which of the following theorists would argue that people are inherently self-serving?

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

Question 23

Which of the following reflects the assumptions of social conflict theory?

A) Criminal laws are designed by those in power to oppress those not in power.
B) Once identified as a criminal, a person will assume a deviant identity.
C) Regardless of environmental factors, anyone can learn to become a criminal.
D) People living in dysfunctional, normless environments will turn to crime.

Question 24

According to Robert Merton, which of the following may cause people to feel strain?

A) a high turnover of residents in a neighborhood
B) lack of social change in an area
C) lack of opportunity to achieve economic goals
D) a racially homogenous neighborhood

Question 25

Reginald had to call in sick to work for many weeks due to a severe case of the flu. He has been chronically unemployed, so he becomes worried about losing his job and fears he will not be able to support himself. To begin saving money in case he does lose his job, Reginald begins to sell illegal copies of software he owns to other users online. Which theory of crime does this exemplify?

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

Question 26

What did early social conflict theorists believe was the root of criminal behavior and deviance?

A) normless environment
B) supernatural influences
C) biological differences
D) group struggle

Question 27

Freda Adler and Rita Simon proposed that increases in which area would cause increases in women engaging in criminal behavior?

A) birth rates
B) economic opportunity
C) marriage rates
D) property ownership

Question 28

Which of the following theories assumes that people are born "bad" and must learn to modulate their own behavior in order to be "good?"

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

Question 29

Juanita is a teenager in high school. She is involved in many extracurricular activities at her school and spends the majority of her free time volunteering with a local nonprofit and spending time with her family. What conclusion might a control theorist make about Juanita?

A) She will not engage in crime because she has not learned criminal behavior from peers.
B) She will not engage in crime because she has strong bonds to society.
C) She will engage in crime because she works hard and sees little opportunity for advancement.
D) She will engage in crime because of emotional strain caused by her busy schedule.

Question 30

Which of the following theories considers the affect of one's master status on creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that can cause criminal behavior?

A) strain theory
B) learning theory
C) social bond theory
D) labeling theory

Question 31

During a discussion of causes of crime, Carmen notes that those who are more affluent control criminal legislation. Such control causes less powerful groups, such as ethnic and social minorities, to be apprehended and punished at higher rates than those who are members of the affluent group. With which theory does Carmen's opinion most align?

A) social control theory
B) strain theory
C) labeling theory
D) social conflict theory

Question 32

Which theory suggested that criminal behavior occurs when attachments to family and prosocial others break down?

A) control theory
B) psychological theory
C) differential association theory
D) labeling theory

Question 33

Which term refers to a state of normlessness that is central to strain theory?

A) anomie
B) anxiety
C) confusion
D) disorder

Question 34

Albert is a teenager who lives in a close-knit rural community of 3,000 people where everyone knows one another. He resides in a house with his parents and grandparents. A couple of kids from his school have talked about spray painting the back of the grocery store, but Albert knows the owner of the store and what a hardship it would be for the owner to clean up the mess. Albert talks the kids out of the plan in favor of meeting some friends to play basketball in the park. Albert's actions are best explained by which theory?

A) critical theory
B) social structure theory
C) labeling theory
D) control theory

Question 35

According to differential association theory, a person becomes a criminal by ______.

A) living in a society without norms
B) learning criminal techniques from others
C) demonstrating a persistent pattern of law-breaking
D) establishing an internal identity as a criminal

Question 36

After his placement on juvenile probation for burglary, Mike's parents now call him a delinquent. His teachers whisper about it, and he hears them say he is going nowhere fast. Even other kids at school tell Mike he is a criminal. Mike is starting to think that's all he'll ever amount to. Mike's feelings are best explained by which theory?

A) control theory
B) labeling theory
C) social bond theory
D) social structure theory

Question 37

Which of the following neighborhood characteristics is seen as breaking down social controls and contributing to criminal behavior?

A) racial homogeny
B) high rate of poverty
C) low resident turnover
D) IQ rates

Question 38

Which social process theory notes that people acquire criminal skills and motivations from primary groups, such as family, friends, and peers?

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

Question 39

Janet begins working at a new office supply company as a salesperson. After a few months, she notices her colleagues routinely use and take inventory for personal use. At her previous job, this was considered stealing. When she asks a coworker, her coworker rationalizes the behavior by saying, "Well, with what they pay us, the company at least owes us free office supplies." Janet eventually begins to take office supplies for her personal use as well. Which of the following theories best explains Janet's actions?

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

Question 40

Which of the following theorists links capitalism to crime?

A) social control theorists
B) labeling theorists
C) social conflict theorists
D) strain theorists

Question 41

Data from which system divides crime into two categories and uses the hierarchy rule?

A) Uniform Crime Reports
B) National Incident-Based Reporting System
C) National Crime Victimization Survey
D) the U.S. Census

Question 42

Which of the following is a theory that emphasizes gender involvement in crime?

A) feminist theory
B) social control theory
C) labeling theory
D) biological theory

Question 43

Which of the following does feminist theory attempt to explain in criminology?

A) why women are less likely to experience social strain than men
B) why women are more likely to have a criminal master status than men
C) why men are less likely to commit violent crimes than women
D) why men are more likely to engage in criminal activity than women

Question 44

In which of the following areas is feminist theory sometimes categorized?

A) labeling theory
B) strain theory
C) social conflict theory
D) social process theory

Question 45

Courtney was caught shoplifting several tubes of lip-gloss from her favorite store. When asked why she stole the lip-gloss, she noted she did not think she would be caught since it was only a few tubes. Which is one of the five dimensions of criminal opportunity does Courtney note as reasoning for shoplifting?

A) high reward
B) low risk
C) excusable
D) provoke people

Question 46

A researcher is conducting an examination into the rates of kidnapping/abduction in her geographic area. Which of the following crime databases would most likely have the best information related to these data?

A) Uniform Crime Reports
B) U.S. Census data
C) National Crime Victimization Survey
D) National Incident-Based Reporting System

Question 47

Situational crime prevention notes that crime occurs when people ______.

A) feel they cannot achieve their goals within a certain social system
B) do not have strong social bonds
C) internalize how others view them
D) perceive they will not be caught and the reward is high

Question 48

Some feminist writers criticize Adler's work, stating that feminism has instead made female crime more ______.

A) prevalent
B) visible
C) violent
D) accepted

Question 49

Which theory is represented by the crime triangle?

A) social conflict theory
B) routine activity theory
C) feminist theory
D) labeling theory

Question 50

What is the role of a guardian in the routine activity theory?

A) control offenders
B) create safe places
C) establish routines
D) protect targets

Question 51

Which of the following describes the moment a would-be robber announces his intention to rob his victim and establishes dominance over the victim?

A) tipping point
B) critical mass moment
C) moment of commitment
D) make or break moment

Question 52

Which theories of crime assume that opportunity is the root cause of crime?
A) social conflict theory

A) social conflict theory
B) social process theory
C) environmental criminology theory
D) differential association theory

Question 53

A law enforcement agency monitors daily user activity on certain websites to predict which users will be most likely to commit internet fraud. Which theory explains why law enforcement may choose this method of deterring criminal activity?

A) strain theory
B) routine activity theory
C) social control theory
D) labeling theory

Question 54

Which of the following is a random survey of U.S. households that measures crimes NOT reported to police?

A) Uniform Crime Reporting Program
B) National Incident-Based Reporting System
C) National Victimization Survey
D) Dual Hazard Prediction Program

Question 55

Which of the following is true regarding crimes committed by women over the past seven years?

A) property crimes committed by women have declined
B) rape crimes committed by women have declined
C) arrests of women have declined
D) drug abuse violations by women have declined

Question 56

Daniel burglarizes the home of his friend who is out of town and steals cash from a safe. When he is caught depositing the large sum of cash into his account, he is questioned by law enforcement. Daniel admits that his spouse was recently laid off and that he intended to pay the friend back as soon as he could. Which criminal dimension does Daniel note in his reasoning for committing the crime?

A) high reward
B) low risk
C) excusable
D) provoke people

Question 57

Steve enters a convenience store with the intent to steal a couple of cases of beer. However, after he grabs the beer, he is confronted by the store clerk. Steve shoots and kills the clerk before running out of the store with the two cases of beer. Under the hierarchy rule, which crime(s) is reported by the police to the FBI?

A) murder
B) murder and burglary
C) murder, burglary, and theft
D) murder, aggravated assault, and burglary

Question 58

In which criminology theory would law enforcement focus on making crime less attractive to potential offenders?

A) situational crime prevention
B) routine activity theory
C) labeling theory
D) dual hazard prediction

Question 59

Which of the following is also called crime science?

A) social conflict theory
B) social process theory
C) environmental criminology theory
D) differential association theory

Question 60

According to one study, which of the following crimes in most symbolic of contemporary urban violence?

A) burglary
B) armed robbery
C) carjacking
D) assault

Question 61

Positivist criminology viewed criminals as being controlled by free will.

Question 62

One reported weakness of the Uniform Crime Report is that it does NOT consider ______.

A) common part II offenses
B) common part I offenses
C) some less serious crimes
D) the most severe crimes

Question 63

Scholars in the first portion of the 20th century did research to determine whether individuals with a mesomorphic body type were more prone to criminal behavior.

Question 64

When figuring the crime rate of an area, the number of offenses is divided by which of the following?

A) population of the jurisdiction
B) 100,000
C) population of the nation
D) 373

Question 65

Lombroso believed that offenders were atavistic in nature.

Question 66

Which of the following describes the practice of only reporting the most serious offense in crimes where multiple offenses are committed?

A) dual hazard prediction
B) hierarchy rule
C) crime triangle
D) social control

Question 67

In his Essays on Crime and Punishments, Beccaria lamented the shift away from spiritualism and the belief that criminals are possessed by the devil and must be punished severely to save their immortal souls.

Question 68

Labeling theory claims that when social rules are overly structured and strict, people will feel frustration and act out in criminal ways.

Question 69

Which is the most widely used and most accurate reporting of crimes in the United States that is published by the FBI?

A) National Crime Victimization Survey
B) U.S. Census data
C) Uniform Crime Reports
D) National Incident-Based Reporting System

Question 70

Which of the following categories is unique to the National Incident-Based Reporting System?

A) crimes against persons
B) crimes against property
C) crimes against society
D) crimes against corporations

Question 71

Which of the following is a potential weakness of the National Crime Victimization Survey?

A) focuses on crimes considered "personal"
B) estimates crime based on a representative sample
C) relies heavily on the hierarchy rule
D) excludes crimes against property

Question 72

One of the principles of classical criminology is that the criminal justice system should be predictable--the citizens know the laws and their punishments.

Question 73

Criminologists used theoretical paradigms to explain why crime occurs.

Question 74

Strain theorists argue that crime is caused by a learned helplessness.

Question 75

Within the NCVS, personal crime includes all of the following EXCEPT ______.

A) burglary
B) robbery
C) assault
D) sexual attack

Question 76

Learning theory argues that criminal behavior is acquired through social learning processes.

Question 77

Which includes data on eight different offenses and on both crimes against persons and crimes against property?

A) National Crime Victimization Survey
B) U.S. Census data
C) Uniform Crime Reports
D) National Incident-Based Reporting System

Question 78

Criminologists used theoretical paradigms to explain why crime occurs.

Question 79

A researcher is attempting to estimate the number of rape offenses that have not been reported to the police over the past 6 months. Which of the following databases would most likely have the best information related to these data?

A) National Crime Victimization Survey
B) U.S. Census data
C) Uniform Crime Reports
D) National Incident-Based Reporting System

Question 80

Aside from determining the number of crimes for a given area, the crime rate can also show the ______.

A) likelihood that offenders commit multiple crimes concurrently
B) severity of crimes committed by offenders
C) rate at which victims avoid reporting crimes
D) chances one has of becoming a victim of crime