Deck 2: Opportunity Theories of Victimization

Question 1

The opportunity perspective posits that the root cause of victimization is the favorable combination of _____________.

A) Circumstances and time.
B) Places and people.
C) Space and facilities.
D) A and B
E) A and C

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following was not a development of third-generation victimologists?

A) Discovering the complexity of circumstances for creating victimization opportunities.
B) Identifying specific behaviors that increase victimization risk.
C) Expanding theoretical concepts of criminal behavior.
D) Developing innovative means to test theoretical concepts.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is true of the opportunity perspective?

A) It focuses on the circumstances that make a situation more favorable for victimization to occur.
B) It elaborates on the root causes of criminal offending.
C) It identifies factors related to criminal prosecution.
D) B and C
E) None of the above.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following are part of the 10 principles of opportunity theory?

A) Crime opportunities are concentrated in time and space.
B) Some property offers more tempting crime opportunities.
C) Crime can be prevented by reducing opportunities.
D) A and C
E) All of the above are principles of opportunity theory.

Question 5

Lifestyle-exposure theory uncovered patterns suggesting that victimization _____________.

A) Is not a random occurrence.
B) Is a random occurrence.
C) Disproportionately affects certain groups of people.
D) Affects all people the same.
E) A and C
F) B and D

Question 6

Which of the following does lifestyle-exposure theory suggest as influencing the types of lifestyles people adopt?

A) Genetic traits and personality.
B) Role expectations and structural constraints.
C) Income and personal preferences.
D) Physical characteristics and social networking.

Question 7

The principle of homogamy is defined as _____________.

A) People tending to choose mates and friends from others like themselves.
B) People associating with others who are different from themselves.
C) All individuals spending time with others who are in their surroundings.
D) Some people choosing not to spend time with others.
E) None of the above.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a proposition of lifestyle-exposure theory?

A) Social interactions mostly occur between individuals who have similar lifestyles.
B) The amount of time an individual spends among nonfamily members varies as a function of lifestyle.
C) Lifestyles are determined by individual preferences and genetic makeup.
D) The likelihood of being in public places, especially at night, varies as a function of lifestyle.
E) All of the above are propositions of lifestyle-exposure theory.

Question 9

Which of the following is the best definition of routine activity theory?

A) Criminal behavior is a result of location, motivation, and target suitability.
B) Opportunities for victimization occur when suitable targets intersect with motivated offenders in environments with ineffective or no protections against victimization.
C) Victimization occurs when people are incapable of defending themselves against motivated offenders and other people are not present to assist.
D) Criminal motivation is caused by social surroundings, reduced opportunities for advancement, and the principle of homogamy.

Question 10

Routine activity theory defines exposure as _____________.

A) The breakdown of communication between potential targets and potential offenders.
B) The closeness of potential offenders to other offenders.
C) The combination of criminal motivation and opportunity to offend.
D) The accessibility or visibility of potential targets to potential offenders.

Question 11

Routine activity theory defines proximity as _____________.

A) The physical closeness of potential targets and potential offenders.
B) The emotional closeness of potential targets and potential offenders.
C) The genetic similarity of potential targets and potential offenders.
D) The previous victimization of potential offenders.
E) None of the above.

Question 12

The acronym VIVA stands for ________.

A) Value, inevitability, vicariousness, access.
B) Veracity, ingenuity, viability, accountability.
C) Value, inertia, visibility, access.
D) Voracity, inability, value, allotment.

Question 13

Guardianship does not include _______.

A) Physical guardianship.
B) Social guardianship.
C) Mental health guardianship.
D) Target hardening.

Question 14

A key aspect of lifestyle-routine activity theory is _____________.

A) Target attractiveness.
B) Proximity to motivated offenders.
C) Exposure to risk.
D) Lack of capable guardianship.
E) None of the above.
F) All of the above are key aspects of lifestyle-routine activity theory.

Question 15

____________ is/are not a component of structural-choice theory.

A) Victims.
B) Social context.
C) Police.
D) Offender motivation.
E) All of the above are components of structural-choice theory.

Question 16

Difficulty in measuring the lifestyle-routine activity concepts exists because _____________.

A) There are no universal measures of the theory's key concepts.
B) Researchers have agreed on the precise definition of proximity.
C) Target attractiveness is defined differently according to the target.
D) Academics and practitioners have different definitions of proximity.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of risky lifestyles?

A) They place individuals in situations that are conducive to victimization.
B) They make people attractive targets.
C) They increase proximity to motivated offenders.
D) They create an absence of capable guardians.
E) All of the above are true of risky lifestyles.

Question 18

The triplets of guardianship are _____________.

A) Guardians, faculty, and offenders.
B) Facilities, managers, and employees.
C) Guardians, place managers, and handlers.
D) Victims, offenders, and law enforcement.

Question 19

Lifestyle-routine activity theory has been criticized because _____________.

A) The theory does not address which of its concepts is the most important in creating opportunities.
B) The degree to which each of the concepts must be represented is not addressed.
C) There are no universal measures of the theory's key concepts.
D) Some characteristics may not be a product of a victim's lifestyle or routines.
E) All of the above are critiques of lifestyle-routine activity theory.

Question 20

Which of the following is not an opportunity theory of victimization?

A) Routine activity theory.
B) Lifestyle-exposure theory.
C) Structural-choice theory.
D) Social disorganization theory.
E) Multilevel opportunity theory.

Question 21

Compare and contrast lifestyle-exposure theory with routine activities theory. Note the key similarities, as well as the differences, between these theories.

Question 22

Which of the four theories presented in Chapter 2 (lifestyle-exposure theory, routine activities theory, multilevel opportunity theory, or structural-choice theory) provides the "best" explanation of [insert type of crime]? Explain why you think this theory is best.

Question 23

Explain how and why opportunity plays a role in criminal victimization. Select one type of crime (e.g., property, violence, bullying, sexual assault, robbery, burglary) to illustrate your explanation.

Question 24

Define routine activities theory and describe how this theory assists in explaining any type of victimization (you choose which type-make sure to state which type you choose!).

Question 25

Does lifestyles-exposure theory lead to victim blaming? Why or why not?

Question 26

Describe three difficulties victimologists encounter when attempting to measure the key concepts of lifestyles-routine activities theory.

Question 27

Can lifestyles-routine activities theory be adapted to account for cybercrime? Give at least three examples to explain how the theory can be adapted.