Deck 12: Group Differences in Delinquency

Question 1

A distinguishing characteristic of high-crime cities and neighborhoods is:

A) low rates of residential mobility
B) a high percentage of elderly residents
C) economic deprivation
D) a large juvenile population
E) all of the above

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is associated with high-crime communities?

A) low rates of residential stability
B) high percentages of single-parent families
C) high levels of poverty
D) all of the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s the number of people living in high-poverty communities in the United States __________________.

A) increased
B) decreased
C) stayed the same
D) decreased and then increased

Answer 3

A

Question 4

A decline in the number of _______ jobs has helped create conditions leading to an increase in the number of high-poverty communities during the past few decades.

A) service-sector
B) manufacturing
C) technology
D) government

Question 5

Residents of high-crime communities often have less access to conveniently located manufacturing and service-sector jobs. This is an example of what type of strain?

A) loss of positive stimuli
B) presentation of negative stimuli
C) goal blockages
D) negative reinforcement
E) stake in conformity

Question 6

According to Agnew and Brezina, males living in high-crime communities are less able to achieve the goal of ____________ through conventional means.

A) masculine status
B) excitement
C) brotherhood
D) autonomy

Question 7

Residents of high-crime communities may be less able to cope with strain through legitimate channels because they:

A) receive less support from others in their community
B) are more likely to develop a "short fuse"
C) have less power and money
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 8

Residents of high-crime communities are less likely to engage in various types of control because they:

A) are less religious
B) have trouble finding decent work
C) care little about education
D) focus on themselves rather than their children
E) all of the above

Question 9

In the text, Agnew and Brezina use the term "old heads" to denote:

A) long-term drug dealers operating within the community
B) grandfathers and/or grandmothers who have custody of their grandchildren
C) adults outside the family who provide guidance and help to juveniles
D) spiritual leaders

Question 10

Delinquent groups are more common in deprived communities because:

A) control is low
B) families are larger
C) the majority of adults use drugs
D) parents have less love for their children
E) all of the above

Question 11

Within deprived communities, juveniles may develop "beliefs favorable to delinquency." An example given in the text is:

A) seeking companionship
B) campaigning for respect
C) exercising control over emotional expressions
D) exercising power and control of females

Question 12

If one lives in a poor community, it is better to live in a poor community:

A) surrounded by wealthier communities
B) surrounded by other poor communities
C) surrounded by either wealthy or poor communities; it makes no difference
D) none of the above

Question 13

The delinquency of unrestrained individuals who freely satisfy their needs and desires in the most expedient ways possible can best be explained by:

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

Question 14

The delinquency of individuals who seek revenge to manage negative emotions can best be explained by:

A) social learning theory
B) strain theory
C) control theory
D) routine activities theory

Question 15

Generally speaking, urban communities have higher crime rates than:

A) suburban communities
B) rural communities
C) all of the above
D) none of the above

Question 16

Neighborhoods with extremely high levels of poverty are characterized as having ____ or more of the residents below the poverty line.

A) 20%
B) 40%
C) 60%
D) 90%

Question 17

According to Agnew and Brezina, one major cause of family disruption is:

A) families headed by males
B) grandparents involvement in raising children
C) economic deprivation
D) inadequate socialization

Question 18

Data suggest that much or all of the association between race and community crime rates is due to third variables like:

A) residential instability
B) family disruption
C) proximity to high-crime communities
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 19

From 2000 to 2013, the number of high-poverty neighborhoods __________________.

A) decreased
B) increased
C) stayed the same
D) increased and then decreased

Question 20

Communities where residents are willing to work together to exercise direct control over others are said to be high in:

A) crime
B) collective efficacy
C) drug use
D) none of the above

Question 21

Draw on material presented in the text to explain why the homicide rate is much higher in Baltimore than in New York City. Focus your discussion on the characteristics of high-crime neighborhoods and cities.

Question 22

Describe three characteristics of high-crime neighborhoods.

Question 23

Economic deprivation is one of the key characteristics of high-crime communities. Use any one of the leading delinquency theories to explain why economic deprivation increases the likelihood of crime.

Question 24

High-crime communities tend to have a higher percentage of African American residents. Explain why data suggest that the percentage of African American residents in a community does not have a causal effect on crime rates.

Question 25

Describe the trend in high-poverty neighborhoods and residents from the 1960s to 2013. Did high-poverty neighborhoods and their residents increase, decrease, or both? Be specific in your answer.

Question 26

According to Agnew and Brezina: "We have witnessed a long-term historical trend toward the increasing concentration of poverty, with more high-poverty neighborhoods, and more people living in these neighborhoods." Discuss the reasons provided in the text for this long-term trend.

Question 27

Use strain theory to explain the relationship between deprived communities and high crime rates. Be sure to address the various types of strain and coping responses that increase the likelihood for crime. Give examples.

Question 28

Explain the relationship between the characteristics of high-crime communities and community crime rates using control theory.

Question 29

Indicate how the characteristics of deprived communities reduce the ability and willingness of residents to exercise effective control. In your answer address different forms of control and provide examples to illustrate your points.

Question 30

Agnew and Brezina state: "residents of deprived communities are more likely to develop beliefs favorable to delinquency, forming what have been called 'delinquent or criminal subcultures.'" Explain this statement from a social learning perspective.

Question 31

Examine why it is better to live in a community surrounded by wealthier communities than by other poor communities. Use propositions of strain theory to explain how surrounding communities can influence crime rates.

Question 32

How might strain theory partly explain the development of beliefs favorable to delinquency in deprived neighborhoods?

Question 33

Explain the reciprocal relationship between community crime rates and community characteristics.

Question 34

Draw on delinquency theories to explain the impact that "collective efficacy" has on crime rates.

Question 35

Discuss benefits of studying crime rates across communities. What are the benefits of the community as the unit of analysis as opposed to the individual as the unit of analysis?

Question 36

The textbook notes that several criminologists have argued that researchers should consider not only the extent to which community residents are poor but also the extent to which they are advantaged. What do Agnew and Brezina mean by the term "advantaged"? Do advantaged residents typically increase or decrease the level of crime in communities? Why?

Question 37

The textbook describes how residents of high-crime communities are less likely to engage in different types of control for at least four reasons. What are these reasons?

Question 38

In Carr et al.'s (2007) study of three high-crime communities in Philadelphia, over 60% of the young people expressed negative views of the police. Why would this be? Provide some examples.

Question 39

Describe social disorganization theory. Do data support the basic arguments of social disorganization theory? Explain why or why not.

Question 40

Agnew and Brezina state that in neighborhoods where the street code is prevalent, young people may feel pressure to use violence even if they do not personally value aggressive behavior. Provide some reasons for why this would be true.