Deck 14: Biosocial Theories

Question 1

Which of the following was not a key influence in the development of biosocial theories?

A) E. O. Wilson's sociobiology
B) The work of H. J. Eysenck
C) Social ecology
D) The work of C. R. Jeffery
E) The modern synthesis

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Biosocial theorists assume that:

A) people are blank slates.
B) people are naturally altruistic.
C) people have free will and are not influenced by factors beyond their control.
D) people have varying degrees of free will and behavior is influenced by various factors.
E) consensus and conflict views of the law are inherently incompatible.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

According to modern evolutionary explanations of criminal behavior:

A) criminals are evolutionary throwbacks and are less evolved than law-abiding citizens.
B) in early periods of human history, antisocial behavior that we would consider crime created many disadvantages; this is why most people today don't commit crime.
C) criminals are more evolved than law-abiding citizens because they have discovered how to make money without working.
D) criminals tend to have different mating and parenting strategies compared with law-abiding people.
E) the criminal justice system represents an important leap in human evolution.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is false with regard to the neurological explanations of criminal behavior?

A) They point out that the human brain has a high level of plasticity and is shaped by its external environment.
B) They focus on examining levels of neurotransmitters in the brain as well as levels of hormones in the body.
C) They draw on various forms of learning theory, including classical and operant conditioning.
D) They are concerned with understanding the areas of the brain.
E) They suggest that people with higher levels of arousal are less responsive to punishment.

Question 5

The cascade theory of reward suggests that:

A) alcoholism and many other addictive, impulsive behaviors have the same underlying cause.
B) people with a particular serotonin receptor abnormality experience behavioral rewards differently than normal people because reward centers in the limbic system fail to receive the appropriate neurotransmitters.
C) issues in the prefrontal cortex and reticular activating system (RAS) cause impulsivity and aggression.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Question 6

Genetic explanations of behavior:

A) identify traits that are connected to criminal behavior.
B) examine how genes interact with one's environment.
C) argue that it is important to consider how IQ and underarousal of the nervous system contribute to criminality.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Question 7

Research on biosocial theories:

A) suggests that early life experiences such as parenting and socioeconomic status have little to no effect on the brain.
B) has found that gender plays little to no role in chronic offending.
C) indicates that among maltreated children, those with a genotype conferring high levels of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) expression were less likely to develop antisocial problems later in life.
D) is much more useful for explaining crime rate variations between countries than explaining individual criminality.
E) demonstrates that people commit crime at the same rate regardless of their social class.

Question 8

Which of the following is not an example of a practical ramification of the biosocial theories?

A) Administration of prescription drugs
B) Providing justification for outlawing the death penalty for juveniles
C) The rise of neurolaw
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Question 9

Biosocial theorists have proposed three interrelated levels of explanation-evolutionary, neuroscientific, and genetic.

Question 10

Biosocial theorists believe that crime is a clear behavioral construct.

Question 11

Monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) is an enzyme that is responsible for breaking down neurotransmitters.

Question 12

According to Ellis's evolutionary-neuroandrogenic theory, unusually high testosterone levels in the womb can impair the development of executive function.

Question 13

Genotypes can be affected by environmental factors, such as weather and diet.

Question 14

Molecular genetics attempts to locate particular genes involved with specific traits.

Question 15

Active rGE refers to when the environment exerts influences on the individual; this is usually associated with one's formative years

Question 16

Studies examining the lead crime connection have typically been cross-sectional rather than longitudinal.

Question 17

What are some of the differences between biological and biosocial explanations of antisocial and criminal behavior?

Question 18

What assumptions about human nature do biosocial theories make?

Question 19

What role has new technology played in the development and testing of biosocial theories?

Question 20

What are some of the challenges and critiques leveled against these theories?

Question 21

What is the role of environmental toxins in biosocial criminology? How might this connect to so-called green criminology and the study of epigenesis?