Deck 13: Rational Theories

Question 1

The collection of more complex data sets gave rise to new theories of crime and the field of study called ______________.

Answer 1

Victimology.

Question 2

According to lifestyle theory, when lifestyle variations are taken in account:

A) Criminals can be separated into professionals and amateurs.
B) Victims can be predicted by their social class.
C) Victims are less likely to be young.
D) Victimization experiences and potential victimizations are relatively predictable.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Routine activities theory requires the absence of a capable guardian before a crime can be expected to occur.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The probability of crime increases when which of the following components is present:

A) There is a motivated offender.
B) There is no suitable target.
C) There is a capable guardian.
D) a and c

Question 5

Routine activities can be considered a continuation of the Chicago School because of its emphasis on:

A) Case studies and crime prevention.
B) Social disorganization and ecology.
C) Ecology and culture conflict.
D) Learning styles and social class.

Question 6

A routine activities theorist would argue that victims and targets are randomly distributed through all types of settings.

Question 7

Lifestyle theory focuses more on:

A) The lifestyle of the criminal.
B) The lifestyle of society at large.
C) The lifestyle of the victim.
D) Changes in lifestyle over time.

Question 8

Which of the following is referred to in this section as evidence of a conservative government mood in the late 1970s and early 1980s?

A) Increased defense budgets.
B) Lessening of restrictions on businesses.
C) Attempts to reduce welfare benefits.
D) All of the above.

Question 9

Rational choice theory is most strongly identified in the work of:

A) Cohen and Felson.
B) Hindelang, Gottfredson and Garofalo.
C) Clark and Cornish.
D) Gottfredson and Hirschi.

Question 10

In making "involvement" decisions, the tactics for carrying out an offense, that is, the demands placed on the offender to commit the crime are determined.

Question 11

Rationalist theories seemed to be rooted in evidence that came from:

A) The U. S. Census.
B) The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act.
C) The Philadelphia Birth Cohort Study.
D) National victimization statistics.

Question 12

Areas that gain a reputation for being prone to crime are referred to as _____ spots.

Question 13

According to lifestyle theory, individuals of higher social class engage in fewer activities that involve crossing paths with street criminals.

Question 14

Cohen and Felson claim that changes that have taken place in American society have resulted in all of the following EXCEPT:

A) More people at home during work hours.
B) Greater interactions with motivated offenders.
C) More suitable targets being available.
D) A greater absence of guardians.

Question 15

All of the following are policy/program implications from rational theories EXCEPT:

A) Midnight basketball.
B) Neighborhood watch.
C) Victim assistance.
D) Target hardening.

Question 16

Hindelang et al. found that you can explain why certain groups of people are more likely to be victimized because of their patterned activity or ______________.

Question 17

According to the text, lifestyles are influenced by all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Social roles played by people.
B) The proximity of law enforcement agents.
C) Position in the social structure.
D) Decisions about desirable behavior.

Question 18

One of the primary concepts of lifestyle theory is the criminal's identification with specific forms of crime.

Question 19

Rational choice theories developed in the midst of social events that included all of the following EXCEPT:

A) The Drug War.
B) The Prison Expansion Era.
C) The Victims' Rights Movement.
D) The Anti-Immigration Protests.

Question 20

All of the following can be used to describe rational theories EXCEPT:

A) Classical.
B) Process-oriented.
C) Micro-theoretical.
D) Conflict-oriented.

Question 21

Explain what major data sets are useful to theorists in this section of rational perspectives

Question 22

Describe the types of policies and programs that would be suggested by rational approaches to the study of crime.

Question 23

The rational choice perspective argues that the specific tactics for carrying out a crime are determined by _______ decisions.

Question 24

What are the factors related to making the decision to commit a crime according to the rational choice perspective?

Question 25

Returning to an earlier school of thought that people make rational choices has resulted in criminologists describing many of the new theory approaches as ___________.

Question 26

Why are rational perspectives also referred to as "neo-classical"?

Question 27

When an offender has social bonds that may be used to restrain them, Felson refers to them as __________.

Question 28

Describe the factors that influence lifestyle and how those are related to crime.

Question 29

Explain routine activities theory and how it predicts levels of victimization.