Deck 5: Theories of Criminal Behavior

Question 1

Criminal deviance occurs when:

A) There is misunderstanding between citizens and government
B) Individual's bonds to society are weak or broken
C) Societal expectations are not met
D) Children do not comply with parental authority

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to Walter Miller, delinquency results when:

A) Children do not comply with parental authority
B) Societal expectations are not met
C) Efforts to achieve a different set of goals than those promoted by social norms
D) Individual's bonds to society are weak or broken

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Based on the concept of determinism, this concept holds that criminal behaviors are influenced by outside forces such as biological, psychological and sociological factors:

A) Positivist school of criminology
B) Classical school of criminology
C) Social control theory
D) Social deviance

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A set of explanations for crime based on the concept of free will, or the idea that individuals choose whether or not to commit crime:

A) Positivist school of criminology
B) Criminology
C) Social control theory
D) Classical criminology

Question 5

The scientific study of crime trends, the nature of crime and explanations for why persons commit crimes:

A) Criminology
B) Deviance
C) Positivist school of criminology
D) Deviance

Question 6

An early from of criminological explanation that attributed criminal behavior to the influence of evil spirits for demons.

A) Demonology
B) Phrenology
C) Atavism
D) Somatotypes

Question 7

According to Emile Durkheim a state of normlessness is called:

A) Criminal
B) Chaos
C) Anomie
D) Strain

Question 8

Emile Durkheim believed when there were periods of social change there would be a lack of normative guidelines and consequently:

A) Anomie
B) Chaos
C) Stress and strain would cause deviant behavior
D) Unrelenting strain

Question 9

Juveniles who resort to drugs, sex or other activities as a means of escaping societal expectations are known as:

A) Delinquent
B) Retreatists
C) Deviant
D) Deprived

Question 10

The Salem Witch Trials are an example of:

A) Phrenology
B) Atavism
C) Demonology
D) Eugenics

Question 11

A number of explanations have been offered to understand the panic over witchcraft in the Massachusetts colony. However, one dominant theme that cannot be overlooked is:

A) The role of women in power
B) Punishment
C) The crimes committed
D) The role that gender played in the construction of witchcraft

Question 12

The study of personality traits as revealed by examining bumps and grooves in the skull is known as:

A) Phrenology
B) Atavism
C) Demonology
D) Eugenics

Question 13

CesareLombros proposed that criminals were biological throwbacks to an earlier evolutionary stage, people more primitive and less highly evolved than their noncriminal counterparts. This theory is known as:

A) Phrenology
B) Atavism
C) Demonology
D) Eugenics

Question 14

The theories of phrenology, atavism, and body type share commonalities. These are:

A) They all deal with the relationship between physical characteristics and deviance
B) There is no scientific support for these ideas, and they are generally discarded by modern criminologists
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

Question 15

One idea of how to protect society from criminals that came out of eugenics is:

A) Sterilization
B) Phrenology
C) Atavism
D) All of the above

Question 16

Recent studies suggest that there may be a genetic component to criminal behavior. The focus is on:

A) Specific families passing crime directly to their offspring
B) Identifying particular genes that may influence a variety of behaviors that are associated with a propensity to commit crime
C) Twins and the crimes they commit
D) All of the above

Question 17

In rational choice theory, in choosing to commit a criminal act, offenders engage in a rational decision-making process that includes a consideration of factors such as:

A) The type of offense to be committed in order to achieve the desired goal
B) The selection of the victim
C) The potential sanction (if apprehended) and the potential rewards (if successful)
D) All of the above

Question 18

According to Cohen and Felson and their routine activities theory, crime occurs when three elements converge:

A) A motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of capable guardians
B) A criminal, an event, and a legal system
C) A victim, a place, and a revenge notion
D) A person, a norm, and a law enforcement agency

Question 19

A person must be willing to commit the offense, and capable of actually committing it to be a:

A) Member of society
B) Criminal
C) Victim
D) Motivated offender

Question 20

A physically weak person, holding money, in an isolated area, is an example of:

A) A suitable target
B) A motivated offender
C) An individual asking to be victimized
D) All of the above

Question 21

Police officers, watchful parents, concerned neighbors, and crime prevention security devices are examples of:

A) Suitable targets
B) Motivated offenders
C) Capable guardians
D) Criminal justice members

Question 22

Sigmund Freud believed that the mind could be divided into three levels. The first was:

A) The preconscious mind, where many memories are stored.
B) The conscious mind, which refers to one's current awareness
C) The unconscious mind, which is a warehouse of troublesome memories and feelings that are hidden from immediate awareness
D) The subconscious mind, which refers to preconceived notions

Question 23

Sigmund Freud believed that the mind could be divided into three levels. The second was:

A) The preconscious mind, where many memories are stored.
B) The conscious mind, which refers to one's current awareness.
C) The unconscious mind, which is a warehouse of troublesome memories and feelings that are hidden from immediate awareness
D) The subconscious mind, which refers to preconceived notions

Question 24

Sigmund Freud believed that the mind could be divided into three levels. The third was:

A) The preconscious mind, where many memories are stored
B) The conscious mind, which refers to one's current awareness
C) The unconscious mind, which is a warehouse of troublesome memories and feelings that are hidden from immediate awareness
D) The subconscious mind, which refers to preconceived notions

Question 25

Social learning theory (also known as observational learning) holds that individuals learn behaviors by:

A) Studying textbook
B) Watching others
C) Experiencing situations
D) Writing information down

Question 26

In the classic study by Albert Bandura, Dorothy Ross, and Sheila Ross (1961), the authors determined that children who watched aggressive behavior subsequently behaved aggressively, by hitting an inflatable toy. What does this demonstrate?

A) Social learning theory
B) Behavior theory
C) Aggressive theory
D) All of the above

Question 27

Learning may occur as a result of reinforcements and punishments, in what is known as:

A) Neutralization theory
B) Social disorganization theory
C) Operant conditioning
D) Criminal justice

Question 28

According to operant conditioning, behavior can be influenced through:

A) Giving a positive reinforcement after a desired behavior
B) Giving a negative reinforcement after a desired behavior
C) Giving a positive punishment after an undesired behavior
D) All of the above

Question 29

A rapist obeying the traffic laws, and a shoplifter resisting the idea of committing armed robbery are examples illustrating that many offenders only selectively violate the law. This notion supports what theory?

A) Neutralization theory
B) Social disorganization theory
C) Operant conditioning
D) Aggressive theory

Question 30

Sykes and Matza identified 5 techniques that may neutralize accepted norms; in essence, these are excuses that some offenders may use to justify their criminal behavior. An example is:

A) Denial of responsibility
B) Denial of injury or of the victim
C) The condemnation of the condemners
D) All of the above

Question 31

Aggression, hostility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, are examples of:

A) Medical conditions
B) Criminal behaviors
C) Personality traits suspected as links to criminal behavior
D) Problems in all children

Question 32

Eysenck argued that the potential criminal is one who possesses both neurotic and extroverted personality traits, because:

A) They may act in a self-destructive manner without viewing their behavior as harmful or dangerous
B) They feel they are better than everyone else
C) They do not care about others
D) They feel they are more beautiful than all others

Question 33

Strain theorists argue that society defines certain goals (principally the accumulation of wealth) as worthy of attainment. When members of society, predominantly the lower socio-economic class, fail to achieve those goals, frustration (or strain) results. To relieve this frustration:

A) Some persons may work extra hard to achieve a higher paying occupation
B) Some indigent (i.e., poverty-stricken) persons may reject socially accepted norms and feel that they may only achieve society's valued goals through deviant means, including criminal activity
C) None of the above
D) All of the above

Question 34

There are four components to social bonds:

A) Love, affection, quality time, and relationships
B) Attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief
C) Morals, values, kindness, and compassion
D) Union, bond, hope, and togetherness

Question 35

If a mother repeatedly tells her son that he is a troublemaker, whether he is or not, he mayinternalize the label and get into trouble. This is an example of:

A) Labeling theory
B) Social control theory
C) Strain theory
D) All of the above

Question 36

If we can understand why people commit crimes, we can:

A) Find the people before they commit the crimes
B) Eliminate crime totally
C) Design policies and programs that will reduce crime by addressing its causes
D) Learn nothing about crime

Question 37

One theory suggests that over the course of a person's life, multiple forces can combine to influence behavior in different ways, depending upon which stage in life a person finds himself or herself. This theory is known as:

A) Social control theory
B) Life course theory
C) Strain theory
D) Labeling theory

Question 38

To be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, a person must exhibit at least 3 of 6 characteristics. These include:

A) Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
B) Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
C) Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
D) All of the above

Question 39

A criminal feels that, "It wasn't my fault." This is an example of:

A) Denial of responsibility
B) Denial of injury
C) Denial of the victim
D) Condemnation of the condemners

Question 40

A criminal feels that, "They deserved what they got." This is an example of:

A) Denial of responsibility
B) Denial of injury
C) Denial of the victim
D) Condemnation of the condemners

Question 41

Serial killing is rare when compared to other crimes.

Question 42

In the field of criminology, there are many theories that contain partial answers, but there is one single correct answer that applies in all cases.

Question 43

Theories of criminal deviance can be applied to prevent crime.

Question 44

Extreme extroverts are thrill seekers and impulsive.

Question 45

The origin of strain theory is can be found within the earlier theory of anomie.

Question 46

Personality traits suspected as links to criminal behavior include aggressions, hostility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Question 47

Neuroticism occurs when a person lacks emotional stability and is viewed as irrational, moody, anxious, and tense.

Question 48

Criminology helps us understand why some people engage in deviantbehavior.

Question 49

According to Travis Hirschi, religious groups can provide social bonds.

Question 50

The presence of deviance therefore permits the definition of deviance to evolve and, as it does, persons and communities may revise and redefine their understandings of their norms.

Question 51

There is modern science that supports the notion of a connection of biological traits and criminality.

Question 52

One of the earliest forms of criminology was demonology.

Question 53

Atavism is the study of personality traits as revealed by examining bumps and grooves in the skull.

Question 54

William Sheldon believed that persons who are muscular, active and aggressive, known as mesomorphs, were less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.

Question 55

Frances Galton believed that eugenics was a means to positively influence human evolution by assuring that only the finest reproduced.

Question 56

Research revealed that there was no relationship between the extra Y chromosome in XYY individuals and criminal violence.

Question 57

Researcher Karl Christiansen (1977) found that if one identical twin had a criminal conviction, the other twin also had a conviction in 35% of the cases.

Question 58

Modern biological researchers are also careful to acknowledge that genetic traits do not cause crime by themselves; rather, the environment in which an individual lives has a significant impact, as well.

Question 59

According to the rational choice theory, if the benefits outweigh the risks, the offender decides to commit the crime.

Question 60

When capable guardians are absent, the likelihood of crime increases.

Question 61

Sigmund Freud believed that the mind could be divided into five levels.

Question 62

To Freud, human behavior was driven by unconscious mental processes involving the id, superego, and ego.

Question 63

The id includes urges, impulses, and intense energies that may influence criminal activity.

Question 64

Based upon his many years of running an institution for delinquent youth, psychologist August Aichhorn?found that many children in his institution had overdeveloped superegos.

Question 65

Learning may occur as a result of reinforcements and punishments, in what is known as operant conditioning.

Question 66

Sykes and Matza recognized that many offenders do not actually view themselves as criminals because they only selectively violate the law

Question 67

Personality refers to an individual's patterns of behavior, mental traits, thoughts, emotions, temperament, and feelings.

Question 68

Extreme extroverts are passive and moody.

Question 69

Neuroticism occurs when a person is emotionally stable and is viewed as rational.

Question 70

Low self-control is viewed as a stable trait, meaning that it does not change over an individual's lifetime, with its origins in childhood.

Question 71

Shaw and McKay discovered that Zone Three produced the highest rate of crime and other social problems, including drug abuse, suicide, and mental illness.

Question 72

Miller highlighted six focal concerns of lower class culture, including trouble, toughness, smartness, excitement, fate and autonomy.

Question 73

Individuals can only address strains by turning to crime or deviant behaviors.

Question 74

Being attached to family, friends, and other social institutions means a person is sensitive to their opinions, and therefore less likely to violate norms.

Question 75

It is those persons who are invested in conventional societal norms and values that are less likely to engage in criminal conduct.

Question 76

Peacemaking criminologists argue that the encouragement of communication and relationships can promote justice and heal social wrongs.

Question 77

It is important for criminal justice students and practitioners to understand the origins of the laws they are studying and enforcing on a daily basis.

Question 78

An individual offender cannot be influenced by different criminological theories at different times in his or her life.

Question 79

Integrated theories blend an array of theoretical perspectives in order to produce a more comprehensive explanation of crime.

Question 80

Talk About:
-Marxist criminology