Question 1

Biological theories of crime seek to provide a _____ explanation for the actions of offenders.

Accepted Answer

Biological theories of crime attribute criminal behavior to physical or biological factors, such as genetics or brain structure, rather than psychological, sociological, or political factors.

Question 2

These are short lengths of DNA that determine the inherited characteristics that distinguish individuals.

Accepted Answer

Genes are segments of DNA that carry the instructions for the synthesis of proteins, which in turn determine the inherited characteristics that distinguish individuals.

Question 3

Early attempts to link heredity and genetics to crime relied on the use of _____.

Accepted Answer

Early attempts to link heredity and genetics to crime often involved the study of family trees to identify patterns of criminal behavior across generations.

Question 4

These theories postulated a relationship between the physical appearance of the body and the temperament of the mind.

Accepted Answer

Body-type theories suggest a link between the physical structure of the body and personality traits, which includes the temperament of the mind.

Question 5

This idea that the shape of the skull indicated personality was mainly promoted by Franz Joseph Gall.

Accepted Answer

Phrenology is the pseudoscientific belief that the shape of the skull reflects a person's character or personality, a theory primarily promoted by Franz Joseph Gall.

Question 6

This is the idea that human beings can be improved by controlled breeding.

Accepted Answer

Eugenics is the concept that suggests improving the human species by selectively breeding people with desirable traits.

Question 7

This Supreme Court case upheld the right of states to sterilize those determined to be mentally incompetent.

Accepted Answer

Buck v. Bell (1927) is the Supreme Court case that upheld the state's right to sterilize individuals deemed mentally incompetent, marking a controversial moment in the history of U.S. jurisprudence.

Question 8

These twins occur when two eggs are fertilized by two sperm.

Accepted Answer

Fraternal twins occur when two different eggs are fertilized by two different sperm, resulting in two genetically unique siblings born at the same time.

Question 9

What can we conclude from studies of twins and adopted children?

Accepted Answer

Studies of twins and adopted children have shown that separating the influences of genetics and environment on traits such as criminal behavior is complex. There is evidence of a relationship between the antisocial behavior of biological parents and their children, indicating a genetic component. However, the research techniques that can effectively separate the influences of genetics and environment often involve small sample sizes, making broad generalizations difficult. These findings collectively suggest that both genetics and environment play roles in development, but disentangling their specific contributions is challenging.

Question 10

According to Fishbein:

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Fishbein:
...

Question 11

In males, the hormone _____ has been linked to increases in aggression and sex drive.

Accepted Answer

Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and is associated with aggression and sex drive in males.

Question 12

Which is a general term for male hormones?

Accepted Answer

Androgens are the general term for male hormones, which include testosterone as a specific type.

Question 13

This theory seeks to explain how environmental conditions interact with the body to produce behavior.

Accepted Answer

Biosocial theory explains how environmental conditions interact with genetic and biological factors to influence behavior. It integrates biological and social perspectives to understand human behavior.

Question 14

Which is not a criminological objection to biosocial theories?

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because the objection that society might commit too many resources to the rehabilitation of delinquents and adult offenders is not typically a criminological objection to biosocial theories. The main objections usually focus on the deterministic nature of these theories, their potential social dangers, insensitivity to individuals' feelings, and the argument that crime is a social construct, not directly linked to genetics. Concerns about resource allocation for rehabilitation are more about practical implications and priorities rather than a critique of the theories' foundations.

Question 15

According to Walsh, which is an objection to biosocial theories?

Accepted Answer

Biosocial theories face criticism for suggesting a genetic predisposition to crime, but critics argue that crime is a social construct, not directly linked to genetics.

Question 16

Freud's _____ contends that our behavior is motivated by inner forces, memories, and conflicts of which we have little awareness or control.

Accepted Answer

Freud's psychoanalytic theory suggests that human behavior is influenced by unconscious forces, memories, and conflicts, which are beyond our immediate awareness and control.

Question 17

According to Piaget, children learn through two primary processes: _____ and _____.

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development posits that children learn through assimilation, where they integrate new information into existing schemas, and accommodation, where they modify existing schemas to incorporate new information.

Question 18

This theorist argued that as humans grow and change, they progress through stages of moral development in which they learn to apply ethical behavior and develop a sense of justice and fairness.

Accepted Answer

Lawrence Kohlberg is known for his theory on the stages of moral development, which describes how individuals evolve in their understanding and application of moral principles as they grow.

Question 19

According to Kohlberg, only about __ percent of adults are capable of moving on to post-conventional morality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Kohlberg, only about __ percent...

Question 20

According to Piaget and Kohlberg, children's _____ relationships are key to developing pro-social attitudes and relating to others.

Accepted Answer

Piaget and Kohlberg emphasized the importance of peer relationships in the development of children's social behaviors and moral reasoning, highlighting how interactions with peers contribute to understanding social norms and developing pro-social attitudes.

Quiz 4: Biological and Psychological Theories of Delinquency