Deck 1: Crime and Criminology

Question 1

What did the theorists who followed Auguste Comte's writings become known as?

A)communists
B)socialists
C)hedonists
D)positivists

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of these men was one of the first criminologists to link crime rates to alcohol consumption, changes of season, and climate?

A)L.A.J. Quetelet
B)Emile Durkheim
C)Karl Marx
D)August Comte

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which scenario best exemplifies the perspective of Chicago School sociologists?

A)The crime rate in Smithville is lower than average because there are higher rates of psychological deficits there.
B)A survey of prisons in Smithville found that most criminals there suffer from biological deficits.
C)The crime rates are higher in Smithville neighbourhoods where there is more evidence of poverty and disorder.
D)There is a higher rate of violent crime in Smithville, where workers feel as though their work is not valued by their capitalist employers.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which criminology perspective takes the position that crime is a function of competition for limited resources and power?

A)classical/choice
B)biological/psychological
C)structural
D)conflict

Question 5

Which of the following factors are considered by biological and psychological theorists when studying crime?

A)treatment, diet, I.Q., and substance use
B)temperament, treatment, hormones, and personality
C)hormones, diet, personality, and intelligence
D)disability, psychosis, behaviour, and diet

Question 6

Which of the following would be an example of what John Hagan would categorize as a "social diversion"?

A)facial tattoos
B)murder
C)prostitution
D)joy riding

Question 7

Who is known as the "father of criminology"?

A)Philippe Pinel
B)Benjamin Rush
C)Cesare Lombroso
D)J.K. Lavater

Question 8

Who is credited with conflict theory's link to crime and criminology?

A)Karl Marx
B)Edwin Sutherland
C)Emile Durkheim
D)John Hagan

Question 9

What concept did Cesare Beccaria believe in?

A)the Inquisition
B)capital punishment
C)hedonism
D)utilitarianism

Question 10

During the nineteenth century, phrenologists studied bumps on the skull and other researchers examined facial features and made associations between these features and the likelihood that one would engage in criminal behaviour. Which branch of criminology did they all belong to?

A)contemporary
B)sociological
C)classical
D)positivist

Question 11

Which theorist's work is considered a foundation for sociological criminology and the view that crime can be considered helpful for social change?

A)Cesare Lombroso
B)Karl Marx
C)Emile Durkheim
D)Cesare Beccaria

Question 12

According to Marxist tradition, what condition does an economic system which exhibits distinct class differences, support?

A)political corruption
B)corporate crime
C)high crime rate
D)domestic terrorism

Question 13

Which of the following statements best exemplifies the conflict view of crime?

A)Crimes are acts that are truly harmful to all society.
B)Laws reflect the viewpoints of the wealthy.
C)Crimes are actions that everyone agrees are unacceptable.
D)Deviance is a label applied to actions deemed unacceptable.

Question 14

Consider the crime of sexually assaulting a child and the public response to it. Which of John Hagan's categories does it best fit into?

A)social diversion
B)social deviation
C)conflict crime
D)consensus crime

Question 15

What widely held belief about crime did the Chicago School sociologists challenge?

A)Poverty is strongly correlated with crime rates.
B)Poorly functioning neighbourhoods have higher crime rates.
C)Criminals are biologically and/or psychologically impaired.
D)Crime rates are higher in rural neighbourhoods.

Question 16

In criminal law the burden of revenge is shifted from the individual to which of the following?

A)the community
B)the family
C)correction workers
D)the state

Question 17

What is the most famous set of written laws of the ancient world known as today?

A)Mosaic Code
B)Code of Hammurabi
C)Lex Talionis
D)English Common Law

Question 18

What did Durkheim believe to be true about crime in our society?

A)It is a normal part of any society.
B)It is based on a consensual relationship between victims and offenders.
C)It is subjective.
D)It is governed by biological forces.

Question 19

Which of these people was among the first scholars to develop a systematic understanding of why people commit crimes?

A)Nicholas Remy
B)Cesare Beccaria
C)Auguste Comte
D)Cesare Lombroso

Question 20

What type of research would one expect to find Lombroso conducting to determine whether someone was what he called a "born criminal"?

A)feeling the individual's skull
B)assessing the person's facial features and teeth
C)conducting interviews with neighbours to determine if the person was abused as a child
D)interviewing priests or clergy regarding the individual's possible demonic possession

Question 21

According to the conflict view, the definition of crime is controlled by wealth, power, and position, and not by fear of social disruption.

Question 22

Convictions for criminal offences require that either mens rea or actus reus has been established.

Question 23

The scientific study of crime and criminality has existed for several centuries.

Question 24

The conflict view of crime implies that crime is a function of the beliefs, morality, and rules that are inherent in Western civilization.

Question 25

The writings of Cesare Beccaria and his followers form the core of what is referred to today as conflict criminology.

Question 26

Theft is an example of what is called a crime against the person.

Question 27

Which of the following elements must the Crown prove are present in order to show that a crime has taken place?

A)mens rea and mala in se
B)actus reus and mala prohibitum
C)mens rea and mala prohibitum
D)mens rea and actus reus

Question 28

Criminological research involves working closely with institutions and groups of people who can be significantly impacted by any reported findings.

Question 29

Classical theory has evolved into modern rational choice theory.

Question 30

The interactionist view of crime suggests that deviants are those who are labelled such by society.

Question 31

According to Emile Durkheim's vision of social positivism, crime is an inevitable part of a functional society.

Question 32

A researcher has decided to conduct a study examining crime rates in an inner-city neighbourhood. The research could affect community funding for local projects and labels being assigned to those deemed to be "high risk" offenders. However, the impact may be very beneficial if various funders were to consider the results as worthy of attention. Which aspect of the study must the researcher consider most carefully before conducting such a study?

A)generalizability of the findings to other neighbourhoods
B)the validity of the results which may be achieved through the study
C)the reliability of the research results
D)the ethical implications of the study being proposed

Question 33

Tim was charged with theft after he took a canoe from a cottage, paddled it 5 kilometres down a river, and abandoned it. He claims that he was lost and that he needed to use the canoe for his survival. Which of the following approaches is Tim using for his defence?

A)absolute liability
B)justification
C)excuse
D)precedent

Question 34

Chicago School sociologists argued that crime was a function of personal traits or characteristics.

Question 35

Joan has been caring for her neighbour's children before and after school for the past three years. According to Canadian Law, she is responsible for assisting and protecting those in her care. Which guidelines outline her obligation?

A)the relationship of the parties based on status
B)a contractual relationship between Joan and the children/parents
C)a common-law relationship dictated by precedent in case law
D)civil statute relationship guidelines

Question 36

What must the guilty action be in order to satisfy the requirements of "actus reus"?

A)premeditated
B)compelled
C)voluntary
D)malevolent

Question 37

The Canadian justice system is a static social phenomenon inherited from centuries-old English Common Law, which consists of a tradition of unchanging social norms.

Question 38

The social structural perspective sees an individual's socioeconomic status as the primary root cause for their criminal activity.

Question 39

The study of victimology involves the correction and control of known criminal offenders.

Question 40

Edwin Sutherland's analysis of business-related offences, or "blue-collar crimes," describes the economic crime activities of the affluent.

Question 41

The interactionist perspective defines deviant or criminal behaviour as illegal because society defines it that way. Interpret the interactionist perspective more fully and then support or explain your own opinion using other sociological theories studied in this text to support your argument(s).

Question 42

Your text discusses three major ethical issues to consider when undertaking criminological research. Discuss these issues using examples to illustrate.

Question 43

Detail the historical process of our society in learning to deal with deviant, antisocial, and criminal behaviours. Specifically address concepts learned in this chapter of the text.

Question 44

Failure to come to the aid of people in distress is considered a crime in certain instances. Discuss these instances.

Question 45

Your text discusses several criminal defences that the accused may use to refute one or more of the elements of the crime of which they have been accused. Discuss these defences using examples to illustrate.

Question 46

Discuss what the term "common law" means, and provide the history behind this term.

Question 47

During the 1930s and the 1940s, most sociologists embraced either the ecological view or the socialization view of crime. Compare these two views.

Question 48

Examine the field and subfields of the discipline of criminology. Explain what criminologists do, the major issues involved, and the impact that they have on society.

Question 49

Discuss the elements of a crime. The well-written answer will include examples to illustrate these elements.

Question 50

Discuss why crime and deviance are often confused. Now explain why criminologists are often concerned with the concept of deviance and its relationship to criminality.