Deck 4: Rational Choice Theory

Question 1

Violations that flow from incidents in which the robber's autonomy or sense of values has been jeopardized are called "freestanding robberies."

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Locking gates and putting unbreakable glass on storefronts are examples of crime discouragers.​

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Diffusion of benefits occurs when efforts to prevent one crime unintentionally prevent another.​

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Criminals structure crime. For instance, crack cocaine street dealers prefer the middle of a long block as the best location for dealing.​

Question 5

The concept behind rational choice theory is that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.​

Question 6

The fact that a crime is offense-specific means that criminals must decide if they have the personal needs, skills, and prerequisites to commit a successful criminal act.​

Question 7

Situational crime prevention suggests that crime prevention can be achieved by reducing the opportunities people have to commit particular crimes.​

Question 8

Rational choice theory has its roots in classical criminology and the work of Cesare Beccaria.

Question 9

Rational choice theory has its roots in the positivist school of criminology.

Question 10

Market-related robberies emerge from disputes involving partners in trade, rivals, or generalized predators.

Question 11

According to rational choice theory, crime is not a random event, but rather the product of calculation and planning.

Question 12

Robbers generally choose targets close to their homes or in areas to which they routinely travel.​

Question 13

According to deterrence theory, not only does the actual chance of punishment influence criminality, but so does the perception of punishment.​

Question 14

Men who solicit sex workers are referred to as Johns.

Question 15

Auto thieves are not selective in their choice of target because all cars can be stripped for their valuable parts.​

Question 16

Status-based violations in regard to robberies involve encounters in which the robber's essential character or values have been challenged.

Question 17

Sociologist Jack Katz argues that there are immediate benefits to criminality, which he labels the "lures of crime."​

Question 18

If the punishment for a specific crime is increased and the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system are improved, then the number of people engaging in that crime should decline.​

Question 19

Burglars appear to choose targets on the basis of their value, novelty, and resale potential.

Question 20

Referring to personality and criminal choices, Siegel states that criminals are more impulsive and have less self-control than other people.

Question 21

Closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras and improved street lighting are mechanical forms of crime ______.

A) ​discouragers
B) ​inhibitors
C) ​obstructers
D) ​monitors

Question 22

"Awareness space" indicates that which crime is rational?​

A) ​Robbery
B) ​Prostitution
C) ​Theft
D) ​Drug dealing

Question 23

That thieves select German cars indicates that auto theft is rational because ______.

A) their vehicle identification number (VIN) codes are not as easily traced as VIN codes on American autos
B) ​German cars can be cheaply shipped to Europe where they are in high demand
C) ​parts on Germans cars are not etched with identifying codes
D) ​German cars usually have high-quality audio equipment

Question 24

Specific deterrence is also called particular deterrence.​

Question 25

The concept of situational crime prevention suggests that desperate people may contemplate crime, but only the truly ____ will attack a well-defended, inaccessible target and risk strict punishment.​

A) ​needy
B) ​skilled
C) ​experienced
D) ​irrational

Question 26

According to the rational choice approach, the decision to commit crime is structured by ______.

A) ​the presence of crime encouragers and absence of crime discouragers
B) ​the characteristics of the victim and how the victim may react
C) ​the absence or presence of competing offenders
D) ​where the crime occurs and the characteristics of the target

Question 27

Crime is ________ because criminals will react selectively to the characteristics of an individual criminal act.​

A) ​offender-specific
B) ​offense-specific
C) ​reward-specific
D) ​risk-specific

Question 28

Marcus Felson argues that the risk of crime may be increased by improving the effectiveness of crime _____.

A) ​obstructers
B) ​discouragers
C) ​monitors
D) ​inhibitors

Question 29

According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Gary Becker, criminals engage in a(n) __________ analysis of crime.

A) ​thrill-danger
B) ​irrational -unstable
C) ​lower-class
D) ​cost-benefit

Question 30

Situational crime prevention tactics generally fall into one of four categories. Which of the following is not one of those categories?​

A) ​Increasing the use of probation for committing crime
B) ​Increasing the risk of committing crime
C) Increasing the effort needed to commit crime​
D) ​Inducing guilt or shame for committing crime

Question 31

Which of the following circumstances would prompt an offender to decide to forgo crime?​

A) ​The offender would receive respect from peers.
B) ​The offender would stand a good chance of being caught and punished.
C) ​The crime would be easy to commit.
D) ​The crime would be thrilling to commit.

Question 32

The major premise of incapacitation is that known criminals must be kept in prison and this will reduce crime rates.​

Question 33

Why is drug dealing considered a rational crime?​

A) ​Because drug dealers approach their "profession" in a businesslike fashion
B) ​Because drug dealers are consistently able to avoid detection and arrest
C) Because drug dealers lure nonusers with "samples" of their product to generate a greater number of hooked, hard-core users
D) ​Because drug dealers are more intelligent than other street offenders

Question 34

There is little evidence that incapacitating criminals will deter them from future criminality.​

Question 35

At the end of the nineteenth century, the popularity of the classical approach began to decline as _____ criminologists focused their attention on internal and external factors, such as poverty, IQ, and education, rather than personal choice and decision making.​

A) ​positivist
B) ​ecological
C) ​classical
D) ​interactionist

Question 36

Evidence shows that three-strikes laws are effective crime control policies.​

Question 37

Less than one-third of all convicted felons are rearrested within three years of their release from prison.​

Question 38

Which statement reflects structuring criminality based on economic need?​

A) ​Career offenders have learned when to take a chance and when to be cautious.
B) ​Offenders commit crime because they may know people who have made "big scores."
C) ​Criminals appear to be impulsive.
D) Offenders may commit crime when the "right target" presents itself.​

Question 39

Jacob's and Wright's research on robbers indicates that target selection can be a rational choice made to ____ rather than to generate capital.​

A) ​instill rage
B) ​increase the robber's reputation
C) ​send a message
D) ​generate fear​

Question 40

Rational choice theory has roots in the __________ school of criminology developed by the Italian social thinker Cesare Beccaria.​

A) ​ecological
B) ​interactionist
C) ​classical
D) ​positivist

Question 41

If more criminals are sent to prison, the crime rate should go down. This is referred to as the _____ effect.​

A) ​incarceration
B) ​prison
C) ​incapacitation
D) ​recidivism

Question 42

What happens when crime reduction programs produce a short-term positive effect, but benefits dissipate as criminals adjust to new conditions?​

A) ​Diffusion
B) ​Discouragement
C) ​Displacement
D) ​Extinction

Question 43

When video cameras set up in a mall to reduce shoplifting also reduce property damage due to vandalism, this situational crime prevention benefit is termed ______.

A) ​diffusion
B) ​dispersion
C) ​discouragement
D) ​displacement

Question 44

Fred would also consider his needs, skills, and prerequisites to commit burglary. Which of the following would not be an offender-specific assessment that Fred would make?​

A) ​Whether he possesses the necessary skills to commit the crime
B) ​The ease of selling stolen merchandise
C) ​Fred's fear of apprehension and punishment
D) ​Fred's physical ability

Question 45

Which of the following is a reason why some critics say it is premature to embrace three-strikes policies?​

A) ​Most three-time losers are on the verge of aging out of crime anyway.
B) ​Few career criminals engage in violent crime.
C) ​Most crime is committed by juveniles who are not eligible for three-strikes punishment.
D) ​Crime rates have dropped dramatically in the last decade.

Question 46

What happens when efforts to prevent one crime unintentionally prevent another?​

A) ​Diffusion
B) ​Discouragement
C) ​Displacement
D) ​Extinction

Question 47

What happens when criminals try new offenses they had previously avoided because situational crime prevention programs neutralized their crime of choice?​

A) ​Discouragement
B) ​Extinction
C) ​Replacement
D) ​Specific deterrence

Question 48

What happens when crime control efforts targeting a particular locale help reduce crime in surrounding areas and populations?​

A) ​Diffusion
B) ​Discouragement
C) ​Displacement
D) ​Replacement

Question 49

Which aspect of deterrence theory do theorists believe to have the greatest effect on deterring crime?​

A) ​Severity of punishment
B) ​Certainty of punishment
C) ​Perception of punishment
D) ​Speed of punishment

Question 50

Specific deterrence suggests that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that known criminals will never repeat their criminal acts. Which statement about harsh (powerful) sanctions and deterrence is not true?​

A) ​Harsh sanctions work as an effective deterrence to recidivism.
B) ​Harsh sanctions may result in defiance rather than deterrence.
C) ​Experiencing harsh sanctions may cause severe psychological problems.
D) ​The stigma of harsh sanctions labels and locks people into criminal careers.

Question 51

The concept of general deterrence holds that ______.

A) ​as people age they commit fewer crimes
B) ​if guardians become increasingly motivated, there will be less crime
C) ​motivated people will violate the law if left unrestricted
D) ​the decision to commit crime can be controlled by the threat of criminal punishment

Question 52

The judge explained to Trevor at his sentencing hearing 10 years ago that if he is arrested and convicted of another crime after he serves his 10 years, he is likely to get a lifetime prison sentence under strict sentencing guidelines. Trevor remembers the words of the judge when he is released from prison. If the judge's words are what have convinced Trevor to remain crime free, what crime control policy has successfully kept Trevor a law-abiding citizen?​

A) ​General deterrence
B) ​Specific deterrence
C) ​Incapacitation
D) ​Rehabilitation

Question 53

People who believe that they will be caught if they commit crime are the ones most likely to be deterred from committing criminal acts. What element of deterrence does this reflect?​

A) ​Perception of punishment
B) ​Severity of punishment
C) ​Speed of punishment
D) ​Certainty of punishment

Question 54

_____ occurs when crime control efforts simply move, or redirect, offenders to less heavily guarded alternative targets.​

A) ​Displacement
B) ​Diffusion
C) ​Extinction
D) ​Replacement

Question 55

All of the following would be considered offense-specific to burglary that Fred might consider except ______.

A) ​the probability of security devices
B) ​the ease of selling stolen merchandise
C) ​Fred's immediate need for money
D) ​neighbors who might notice a break-in

Question 56

Fred hears on the local news about Senate Bill 101.c, which states that the first conviction for burglary will result in a mandatory 10-year sentence. Out of fear for this punishment, Fred no longer commits burglaries. This is most related to ______.

A) ​general deterrence
B) ​specific deterrence
C) ​expedited deterrence
D) ​displacement deterrence

Question 57

In order for people to best protect their personal property from people like Fred, they would need to improve the effectiveness of crime _________________, which are people who serve as guardians of property or people who can help control would-be criminals.​

A) ​abolishers
B) ​blockers
C) ​discouragers
D) ​preventers

Question 58

A method of crime prevention that seeks to eliminate or reduce particular crimes in specific settings is referred to as ______.

A) ​situational crime prevention
B) ​guardable space
C) ​defensible space
D) ​positional crime prevention

Question 59

In regard to the term diffusion, what might influence Fred to move to a different community to commit his burglaries?​

A) ​A lack of suitable targets to burglarize
B) ​Increased police patrols in the neighborhood
C) ​Other burglars moving into the area
D) ​Fred becoming recognizable in the area

Question 60

Economist Steven Levitt concludes that each person put behind prison bars results in a decrease of ___ serious crimes per year.​

A) ​20
B) ​15
C) five
D) ​10

Question 61

_____________ refers to a crime control policy that depends on the fear of criminal penalties convincing the potential law violator that the pains associated with crime outweigh its benefits.

Question 62

Trevor spent his 10-year sentence in a maximum-security prison. There he witnessed assaults and even murders. Oftentimes, he was in fear for his life. Reflecting back on the past 10 years and what he was exposed to, Trevor is determined to never again commit a crime that will cause him to end up in prison. What crime control policy is in effect here?​

A) ​General deterrence
B) ​Specific deterrence
C) ​Incapacitation
D) ​Rehabilitation

Question 63

People who serve as guardians of property or people are called ________.​

Question 64

_________ deterrence is the view that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that offenders will never repeat their criminal acts.​

Question 65

________ theory is the view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.

Question 66

Crime ___________________ may occur if beefed-up police patrols in one area of town appear to reduce crime in the given area, while in reality it just merely shifted it to a more vulnerable neighborhood.

Question 67

_________________ occurs when a relatively more severe penalty will produce some reduction in crime.

Question 68

_____ occurs when criminals try new offenses to replace those neutralized by crime prevention efforts.​

Question 69

Ryan King and Gretchen Sutto examined characteristics of _______________ and rational choice theory and found that these crimes were not merely the product of a disturbed mind, but rather a calculated response to a concrete event whose impact is often fueled by the media.

Question 70

__________________ robberies emerge from disputes involving partners in trade, rivals, or generalized predators.

Question 71

About one month after his release, Trevor is frustrated that he has been unable to find a job. He is living on his sister's couch and is tired of hearing her complain about him eating all the food in the house. He feels he has no other option but to get money quickly. He develops a plan to rob the local convenience store late one night. As he walks toward the convenience store, he notices that there are a lot of police officers doing a DUI checkpoint about a half a mile down the road. He decides that it would not be wise to attempt to commit this robbery. What effect has occurred here?​

A) ​Diffusion
B) ​Discouragement
C) ​Displacement
D) ​Replacement

Question 72

A Philadelphia police program that made use of foot patrols found that while the program worked at first, the effects began to quickly fade thereafter. This would be an example of ______________________.

Question 73

The principle that crime can be prevented or displaced by modifying the physical environment in order to reduce the opportunity for individuals to commit crime is referred to as _____ space.​

Question 74

In total, between juvenile and adult institutions, Trevor has spent over 20 years of his life incarcerated. His family cannot understand why he continues to commit crime. They are concerned that he will not be able to remain a law-abiding citizen. What does the research say about the effect of incarceration and an offender's likeliness to repeat criminal behavior?​

A) Most offenders are rearrested within one year of their release from prison.
B) Most offenders are rearrested within three years of their release from prison.
C) ​Most offenders are rearrested within 10 years of their release from prison.
D) ​Most offenders are never rearrested once released from prison.

Question 75

The view that an offender reacts selectively to the characteristics of a particular criminal act is known as a/an ___________________.

Question 76

____ is an effect that occurs when efforts to prevent one crime unintentionally prevent another.​

Question 77

Punishments and deterrence rely on three main factors; severity, certainty, and ___________________.

Question 78

________________ deterrence refers to situations in which the threat of punishment can reduce but not eliminate crime.

Question 79

According to the ______________ effect, while in prison for 10 years, Trevor was prevented from committing further offenses.​

A) ​general deterrence
B) ​specific deterrence
C) ​incapacitation
D) ​rehabilitation

Question 80

Crime is said to be _________________________ because criminals are not simply robots or automatons who engage in unthinking and unplanned acts of antisocial behavior.