Deck 4: Who Is Most Likely to Engage in Delinquency

Question 1

The sociodemographic characteristics that are most closely associated with delinquency are:

A) race and social class
B) gender and race
C) age and gender
D) social class and gender
E) age and race

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Until the 1960s, researchers measured delinquency using:

A) self-report data
B) arrest data/official statistics
C) victimization data
D) self-report and victimization data
E) self-report and arrest data

Answer 2

B

Question 3

As discussed in the text, Chambliss' study of the middle-class "Saints" and the lower-class "Roughnecks" revealed that the:

A) Saints' delinquency was less visible
B) costs of the Saints' delinquency were minor compared to those of the Roughnecks
C) Saints committed minor delinquency, and the Roughnecks engaged in serious delinquency
D) Roughnecks went to considerable lengths to hide their delinquency
E) all of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Findings of the National Youth Survey suggest that:

A) there is no relationship between social class and delinquency
B) social class is related only to minor delinquency
C) social class is related only to serious delinquency
D) social class is related only to the crime of larceny-theft

Question 5

The National Youth Survey suggests that the higher rate of serious offending in the lower class occurs because:

A) the typical lower-class juvenile commits more serious offenses than the typical middle-class juvenile
B) there is a higher percentage of high-rate offenders in the lower class
C) there are more lower-class juveniles than middle-class juveniles
D) all of the above

Question 6

In examining the relationship between race and delinquency, arrest data indicate that African Americans are more likely than Whites to be arrested for:

A) minor but not serious delinquency
B) serious but not minor delinquency
C) most forms of delinquency
D) violent but not property offenses
E) property but not violent offenses

Question 7

The more recent self-report surveys suggest that:

A) Whites are more likely than African Americans to engage in minor delinquency
B) African Americans are more likely than Whites to engage in minor delinquency
C) Whites are more likely than African Americans to engage in serious delinquency
D) African Americans are more likely than Whites to engage in serious delinquency

Question 8

Recent research that examines the relationship between race and serious delinquency suggests that the relationship may be due to ______________, rather than to race.

A) the glorification of violence in music and movies
B) media bias
C) a breakdown of organized religion
D) social class and community context

Question 9

For males, arrest rates for property crime:

A) peak in mid-adolescence and then decline rapidly
B) peak in late adolescence and early adulthood and then decline rapidly
C) peak in mid- to late adolescence and then decline slowly
D) peak in late adolescence and early adulthood and then decline slowly

Question 10

According to the text, female violent offending tends to:

A) peak at a slightly older age than male violent offending
B) peak at a slightly younger age than male violent offending
C) peak at the same age as property offending
D) fluctuate during the late teens and early 20s

Question 11

Which of the following statements about gender and delinquency is correct?

A) Males have higher rates of delinquency than females.
B) Gender differences in delinquency are greatest for serious offenses.
C) Males and females tend to commit similar types of offenses.
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 12

Self-report data show that:

A) female delinquency is increasing more rapidly than male delinquency
B) there are no gender differences in minor delinquency
C) there are no gender differences in serious delinquency
D) none of the above

Question 13

Studies of juvenile offending patterns find that a small percentage of juveniles:

A) engage in moderate amounts of delinquency
B) commit no delinquent acts
C) are "adolescent-limited" offenders
D) stop offending in late adolescence

Question 14

According to Agnew and Brezina, which of the following dimensions offers the best way to classify offenders?

A) race and social class
B) age of onset and type of offenses committed
C) seriousness and type of offense
D) frequency and duration of offending and seriousness of offense

Question 15

Agnew and Brezina discuss toddlers and out-of-control behavior. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Toddlers and very young children regularly engage in misbehavior.
B) Toddlers and very young children regularly engage in minor forms of aggression.
C) Out-of-control toddlers are more likely to become adolescent offenders.
D) all of the above

Question 16

Juveniles experiencing persistent poverty are:

A) more likely to engage in delinquency
B) less likely to engage in delinquency
C) just as likely to engage in delinquency
D) none of the above

Question 17

African Americans are _________ Whites to stop offending when they become adults.

A) more likely than
B) less likely than
C) as likely as
D) none of the above

Question 18

Higher-class juveniles are more likely to engage in delinquency because they have greater "social power." This means that higher-class juveniles are:

A) more likely to have friends who engage in delinquency
B) more likely to commit delinquency because of the need for money
C) better able to avoid detection
D) better able to "pay off" adults and the police when they are caught

Question 19

Which of the following statements is TRUE about victimization data?

A) There are no victimization data on the relationship between social class and delinquency.
B) There are no victimization data on the relationship between race and delinquency.
C) Victimization data suggest that white juveniles are disproportionately involved in violent crime.
D) Victimization data indicate that white females are more likely to be the victims of serious violence.

Question 20

A small group of offenders who offend from early childhood well into adulthood are referred to as:

A) adolescence-limited offenders
B) chronic offenders
C) abstainers
D) minor offenders

Question 21

Early self-report studies found little or no relationship between social class and delinquency. How can one explain this, given that these findings contradict arrest data and commonsense ideas?

Question 22

Chambliss' study of the middle-class "Saints" and the lower-class "Roughnecks" indicated that both groups were about equally delinquent. Explain why the "Saints" were perceived to be less delinquent. How do Chambliss' findings compare with those you observed at your high school?

Question 23

Explain how methodological problems found in most early self-report studies could bias data on the relationship between social class and delinquency.

Question 24

Describe the relationship between race and delinquency, noting differences among arrest, victimization, early self-report studies, and more recent self-report studies. What conclusions do you draw about the relationship between race and delinquency? Justify your answer.

Question 25

Some research suggests that the relationship between race and serious delinquency is due largely to race-related differences in social class and community context. Describe the research in this area.

Question 26

Discuss why it is important in terms of the relationship between juvenile delinquency and race to consider the fact that African Americans are more likely to live in high-poverty communities.

Question 27

Describe the relationship between age and delinquency with regard to property offenses and violent offenses.

Question 28

Compare the findings of arrest data and self-report data with regard to gender and delinquency. Given the strengths and weaknesses of the data, what general conclusions can be made with regard to the relationship between gender and delinquency? Defend your answer.

Question 29

Drawing on the text, list the dimensions used to distinguish the different types of juvenile offenders. Describe the major research findings on each dimension.

Question 30

Data are at odds concerning the gender gap in delinquency-arrest data indicate a narrowing gender gap, whereas self-report and victimization data show no change in the gender gap. Why might these data be at odds with each other? Which do you believe to be more accurate? Why?

Question 31

What are the crucial differences between developmentally early conduct problems as opposed to developmentally late conduct problems?

Question 32

Agnew and Brezina state that delinquency is common among adolescents. Discuss why most juveniles are able to leave this phase behind, whereas other adolescents continue to commit crime well into adulthood. Is there a single factor that stands out as more influential than others?

Question 33

Compare and contrast adolescence-limited offenders and chronic offenders. When does offending typically begin and end for both groups? Which group is more common? Which group commits the majority of offenses?

Question 34

What are some of the common reasons discussed by Agnew and Brezina for why adults may remain "ignorant" of their child's delinquency? Do young people play an active role in such ignorance? Explain your answers.

Question 35

What are some of the most common crimes for which female offenders are arrested? What are the two offenses that females commit at a higher rate than males?

Question 36

What has been the overall trend in arrest rates for males and females since the mid-1980s? How has this trend in offending affected the gender gap in arrest rates?

Question 37

Arrest data have led some researchers and people in the news media to conclude that female juveniles are becoming more violent. Are female juveniles really becoming more violent? Consider ALL measures of delinquency when answering this question.

Question 38

According to the textbook, has the police become more or less tolerant of female violent offenders? What consequences could this have for female offenders?

Question 39

What are some of the changes in police practices that have led to an increase in violent crime arrests for females?

Question 40

Do juvenile delinquents "specialize" in the type of crime they commit? Explain your answer.