Deck 4: Choice Theory: Because They Want to

Question 1

Which of the following circumstances would prompt an offender to decide to forgo crime?

A)The crime would be thrilling to commit.
B)The offender would stand a good chance of being caught and punished.
C)The offender would receive respect from peers.
D)The crime would be easy to commit.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

When video cameras set up in a mall to reduce shoplifting also reduce property damage due to vandalism, this situational crime prevention benefit is termed:

A)dispersion.
B)displacement.
C)diffusion.
D)discouragement.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Why is drug dealing considered a rational crime?

A)Because drug dealers are more intelligent than other street offenders.
B)Because drug dealers approach their "profession" in a businesslike fashion.
C)Because drug dealers lure non-users with "samples" of their product to generate a greater number of hooked, hard-core users.
D)Because drug dealers are consistently able to avoid detection and arrest.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The concept of general deterrence holds that:

A)motivated people will violate the law if left unrestricted.
B)the decision to commit crime can be controlled by the threat of criminal punishment.
C)if guardians become increasingly motivated, there will be less crime.
D)as people age they commit fewer crimes.

Question 5

"Awareness space" indicates that which crime is rational?

A)theft
B)drug dealing
C)robbery
D)prostitution

Question 6

The "high" or the excitement/exhilaration of successfully executing illegal activities in dangerous situations is referred to as:

A)riskwork.
B)edgework.
C)thrillwork.
D)buzzwork.

Question 7

According to the rational choice approach, the decision to commit crime is structured by:

A)the characteristics of the victim and how the victim may react.
B)where the crime occurs and the characteristics of the target.
C)the presence of crime encouragers and absence of crime discouragers.
D)the absence or presence of competing offenders.

Question 8

According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Gary Becker, criminals engage in a(n) __________ of crime.

A)irrational - unstable analysis
B)lower-class analysis
C)thrill-danger analysis
D)cost-benefit analysis

Question 9

Closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras and improved street lighting are mechanical forms of:

A)crime monitors.
B)crime discouragers.
C)crime inhibitors.
D)crime obstructers.

Question 10

Rational choice theory has roots in the __________ school of criminology developed by the Italian social thinker, Cesare Beccaria.

A)positivist
B)interactionist
C)classical
D)ecological

Question 11

The concept of situational crime prevention suggests that desperate people may contemplate crime, but only the truly ____ will attack a well-defended, inaccessible target and risk strict punishment.

A)irrational
B)needy
C)experienced
D)skilled

Question 12

Which statement reflects structuring criminality based on economic need?

A)Offenders commit crime because they may know people who have made "big scores"
B)Career offenders have learned when to take a chance and when to be cautious.
C)Criminals appear to be impulsive.
D)Offenders may commit crime when the "right target" presents itself.

Question 13

A method of crime prevention that seeks to eliminate or reduce particular crimes in specific settings is referred to as:

A)defensible space.
B)situational crime prevention.
C)guardable space.
D)positional crime prevention.

Question 14

Sociologist Jack Katz argues that there are situational inducements to criminality that directly precede the commission of crime and draw offenders into law violations. Katz termed these inducements the:

A)lures of crime.
B)rewards of crime.
C)thrills of crime.
D)seductions of crime.

Question 15

Situational crime prevention tactics generally fall into one of four categories. Which of the following is not one of those categories?

A)increasing the use of probation for committing crime
B)increasing the effort needed to commit crime
C)increasing the risk of committing crime
D)inducing guilt or shame for committing crime

Question 16

Crime is ________ because criminals will react selectively to the characteristics of an individual criminal act.

A)offense-specific
B)reward-specific
C)offender-specific
D)risk-specific

Question 17

Jacob's and Wright's research on robbers indicates that target selection can be a rational choice made to ____ rather than to generate capital.

A)increase the robber's reputation
B)generate fear
C)instill rage
D)send a message

Question 18

That thieves select German cars indicates that auto theft is rational because:

A)parts on Germans cars are not etched with identifying codes.
B)German cars usually have high-quality audio equipment.
C)German cars can be cheaply shipped to Europe where they are in high demand.
D)VIN (vehicle identification numbers) codes are not as easily traced as VIN codes on American autos.

Question 19

At the end of the 19th century, the popularity of the classical approach began to decline as _____ criminologists focused their attentions on internal and external factors - such as poverty, IQ, and education - rather than personal choice and decision making.

A)positivist
B)interactionist
C)classical
D)ecological

Question 20

Marcus Felson argues that the risk of crime may be increased by improving the effectiveness of:

A)crime monitors.
B)crime discouragers.
C)crime inhibitors.
D)crime obstructers.

Question 21

If more criminals are sent to prison, the incarceration rate should go down. This is referred to as:

A)the recidivism effect
B)the incapacitation effect
C)the prison effect
D)the incarceration effect

Question 22

The concept behind rational choice theory is that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.

Question 23

The rationale for using "three strikes" sentencing policies relies on:

A)speed and certainty of punishment
B)perception and speed of punishment
C)general deterrence and incapacitation
D)specific deterrence and incapacitation

Question 24

Edgework is the excitement or exhilaration of successfully executing illegal activities in dangerous situations.

Question 25

Auto thieves are not selective in their choice of target since all cars can be stripped for their valuable parts.

Question 26

People who believe that they will be caught if they commit crime are the ones most likely to be deterred from committing criminal acts. What element of deterrence does this reflect?

A)perception of punishment
B)certainty of punishment
C)severity of punishment
D)speed of punishment

Question 27

Certain anti-crime measures have greater impact on some individuals than others. These people are considered more:

A)rational.
B)displaceable.
C)deterrable.
D)discourageable.

Question 28

Referring to personality and criminal choices, Siegel states criminals are more impulsive and have less-self control than other people.

Question 29

Research on the immediate impact of well-publicized executions:

A)evidenced an immediate impact effect at the state level.
B)indicated that executions have an immediate impact on murder rate.
C)failed to find evidence that an execution produces an immediate decline in the murder rate.
D)indicated that each execution equates to seven less murders.

Question 30

The fact that a crime is offense-specific means that criminals must decide if they have the personal needs, skills, and prerequisites to commit a successful criminal act.

Question 31

Which aspect of deterrence theory do theorists believe to have the greatest effect on deterring crime?

A)perception of punishment
B)certainty of punishment
C)severity of punishment
D)speed of punishment

Question 32

Economist Steven Levitt concludes that each person put behind prison bars results in a decrease of ___ serious crimes per year.

A)5
B)10
C)15
D)20

Question 33

Criminals structure crime. For instance, crack cocaine street dealers prefer the middle of a long block as the best location for dealing.

Question 34

What is known about police and certainty of punishment?

A)Research indicates that routine patrol may have a significant impact on crime rates.
B)Adding police on the street has no effect on crime rates.
C)Evidence shows that cities with larger police departments do not experience lower levels of violent crime.
D)The manner in which police approach their tasks may have more deterrence power than simply adding more police.

Question 35

Robbers generally choose targets close to their homes or in areas to which they routinely travel.

Question 36

Situational crime prevention suggests that crime prevention can be achieved by reducing the opportunities people have to commit particular crimes.

Question 37

Specific deterrence suggests that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that known criminals will never repeat their criminal acts. What do we know about harsh (powerful) sanctions and deterrence?

A)Experiencing harsh sanctions may cause severe psychological problems.
B)The stigma of harsh sanctions labels and locks people into criminal careers.
C)Harsh sanctions may result in defiance rather than deterrence.
D)All these things are known about harsh sanctions.

Question 38

Which of the following is a reason why some critics say it is premature to embrace three strikes policies?

A)Crime rates have dropped dramatically in the last decade.
B)Few career criminals engage in violent crime.
C)Most three-time losers are on the verge of aging out of crime anyway.
D)Most crime is committed by juveniles who are not eligible for three-strikes punishment.

Question 39

Sociologist Jack Katz argues that there are immediate benefits to criminality which he labels the "lures of crime."

Question 40

Rational choice theory has roots in the positivist school of criminology.

Question 41

Explain how economic need, personal traits, and experience contribute to how criminals structure criminality.

Question 42

There is little evidence that incapacitating criminals will deter them from future criminality.

Question 43

Describe the development of rational choice theory and the philosophers central to the concept of rational choice.

Question 44

Situational crime prevention may produce unforeseen and unwanted consequences. Discuss what is meant by displacement, extinction, and replacement.

Question 45

Locking gates, and putting unbreakable glass on storefronts are examples of crime discouragers.

Question 46

Incapacitation theory suggests that placing offenders behind bars during their prime crime years should reduce their lifetime opportunity to commit crime. Not all criminologists buy into this incapacitation effect. Discuss why this is so.

Question 47

Explain what it means to say that criminals structure crime.

Question 48

How do certainty, severity, and speed of punishment impact general deterrence? How does the criminal justice system support or hamper these general deterrence factors?

Question 49

If the punishment for a crime is increased and the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system are improved, then the number of people engaging in that crime should decline.

Question 50

Sociologist Jack Katz argues that there are immediate benefits to criminality. Explain Katz's view.

Question 51

What evidence supports the view that crime is rational? Include various types of criminal behaviors in your discussion.

Question 52

According to the concepts of rational choice, what causes law violating behavior?

Question 53

Diffusion of benefits occurs when efforts to prevent one crime unintentionally prevent another.

Question 54

The theory of specific deterrence holds that criminal sanctions should be so powerful that known criminals will never repeat their criminal acts. Critique this theory. What evidence exists to support specific deterrence?

Question 55

According to deterrence theory, not only does the actual chance of punishment influence criminality, so too does the perception of punishment.