Question 1

When attempting to explain white collar crime, only the explanation of
criminalization is required.

Accepted Answer

The explanation of criminalization alone is not sufficient to fully explain white collar crime. Other factors such as power, opportunity, and rationalization must also be taken into account.

Question 2

Which of the following factors did Marx and Engels see as the primary cause of crime, including white collar crime?

Accepted Answer

Marx and Engels saw the capitalist system as the primary cause of crime, including white collar crime. They believed that the capitalist system created conditions that produced crime, such as inequality, poverty, and exploitation. They argued that those who engage in white collar crime do so in order to maintain their power and wealth in the capitalist system. Material need, biogenetic endowment, and immorality were not seen as primary causes of crime by Marx and Engels.

Question 3

Which phrase best applies to general strain theory?

Accepted Answer

General strain theory focuses on how negative emotions resulting from strains or stressors in one's environment can lead to criminal behavior.

Question 4

The notion that illusions (including the ultimate illusion of money) have replaced a more substantial dimension of reality is associated with which of the following strains of critical criminology?

Accepted Answer

The notion that illusions and the ultimate illusion of money have replaced a more substantial dimension of reality is a fundamental tenet of postmodernist criminology. Postmodernism rejects the traditional objective and rational view of reality and instead emphasizes subjectivity, relativism, and the role of language and discourse in shaping perceptions of reality.

Question 5

The earliest explanation of criminality could be called demonic, or spiritualistic.

Accepted Answer

In many early societies, criminal behavior was often attributed to supernatural forces such as demons or malevolent spirits. This belief was especially prevalent in ancient civilizations such as Babylon and Egypt.

Question 6

Explanations for white collar crime which focus on the nature of the economic system, or societal values, can be said to emphasize which of the following factors?

Accepted Answer

Explanations for white collar crime which focus on the nature of the economic system or societal values emphasize structural factors, which are related to social structures and institutions rather than individual behavior or instrumental factors.

Question 7

Rationalizations or neutralizations invoked by white collar offenders are likely to include all but which of the following?

Accepted Answer

White collar offenders often invoke rationalizations or neutralizations to justify their behavior. These rationalizations may include denial of responsibility, denial of identifiable injury, and condemnation of condemners. However, white collar offenders are unlikely to condemn the application of civil laws to their activities, as civil penalties are typically less severe than criminal penalties. Therefore, option D is the most likely choice to be excluded.

Question 8

According to the text, the pervasive existence of white collar crime seems to offer
a powerful refutation to the proposition that criminality can be generally
explained by biogenetic factors.

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that the prevalence of white collar crime challenges the idea that criminal behavior can be solely attributed to biogenetic factors, implying that social and environmental factors also play a role.

Question 9

The theories in this chapter reflect one understanding of the term theory.

Accepted Answer

Theories in any given chapter or field of study can reflect multiple understandings of the term "theory," as theories can vary widely in their assumptions, methodologies, and applications.

Question 10

Meso-level factors focus upon individual propensities and choices.

Accepted Answer

Meso-level factors refer to intermediate social structures and processes that shape individual behavior, such as organizations, communities, and social networks. This level of analysis does not solely focus on individual propensities and choices.

Question 11

Contemporary forms of radical criminology, such as left realism, peacemaking criminology, feminist criminology, and postmodernist criminology, have been principally concerned with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Contemporary forms of radical criminology, such as left realism, peacemaking criminology, feminist criminology, and postmodernist criminology, have been principally concerned with explaining how crime is conceived of and constituted, and how it should be responded to. These theories focus on the social, cultural, and political factors that influence the definition of crime, the criminalization of certain behaviors, and the responses of the criminal justice system. They also emphasize the importance of understanding the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups, such as women, racial minorities, and the poor, in shaping the patterns of crime and victimization. While these theories may acknowledge the role of individual factors in criminal behavior, they prioritize the broader social and structural influences on crime.

Question 12

Which phrase best applies to institutional anomie theory?

Accepted Answer

Institutional anomie theory sets forth the core theme that competition for limited resources in a society, such as American society that puts such central emphasis upon the goal of individual monetary success, will promote crime.

Question 13

According to the text, conflict theory is primarily concerned with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory is primarily concerned with explaining the process of criminalization, which refers to the social and political processes through which certain behaviors are labeled as criminal and subject to punishment. The theory suggests that the criminal justice system is influenced by power struggles between different groups and that criminal laws are enforced disproportionately against marginalized and disadvantaged populations.

Question 14

Despite the array of activities encompassed by the term white collar crime, the
author of the text holds that a single, general theory or explanation can be formulated for
white collar crime.

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that there are multiple, diverse theories that can be applied to explain white collar crime, rather than a single, general theory.

Question 15

In accounting for different levels of involvement of men and women in white collar crime, feminist criminology would be most likely to emphasize which of the following factors?

Accepted Answer

Feminist criminology emphasizes the gendered structure of inequality that has historically excluded women from decision-making roles in the white collar world. This, in turn, limits their opportunities to engage in white collar crime. This perspective argues that it is not women's lack of interest in money or competitive drive that prevents their involvement in white collar crime, but rather the systemic barriers they face. Therefore, option C is the most suitable answer. Option A and D reflect gender stereotypes that are not empirically supported. Option B is a generalization that cannot be applied to all individuals equally.

Question 16

Integrated theories of white collar crime are best described as those which:

Accepted Answer

Integrated theories of white collar crime draw from multiple theoretical perspectives and consider various levels of analysis to explain the occurrence of white collar crimes.

Question 17

There are many studies of the biological make-up of white collar offenders.

Accepted Answer

Most research on white-collar offenders has focused on sociological and psychological aspects rather than their biological make-up.

Question 18

In a Freudian approach, white collar crime would be linked with tensions and
conflicts between different aspects of the self (ego, id, and superego).

Accepted Answer

According to Freudian theory, tensions and conflicts between the ego, id, and superego could lead to illegal or immoral behavior, including white collar crime. The ego may struggle to balance the demands of the id for immediate gratification and the superego's moral standards, leading to criminal behavior as a form of coping or release.

Question 19

The roots of white collar criminality in early childhood experiences have been
fully demonstrated, especially in studies conducted by Freud.

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud's theories primarily focused on psychosexual development and the unconscious mind, rather than directly linking early childhood experiences to white-collar criminality. Studies on the roots of white-collar crime are more often found in the fields of sociology and criminology, rather than Freudian psychology.

Question 20

In a spiritualistic perspective white collar crime could be regarded as reflecting a
"sacred void" in the face of relentless secular and materialist forces.

Accepted Answer

This statement suggests that white collar crime may stem from a lack of spiritual or ethical values in a society that places greater emphasis on material success and profit. It implies that individuals who engage in white collar crime may feel a sense of emptiness or disconnection from higher values and beliefs.

Quiz 8: Explaining White Collar Crime: Theories and Accounts

When attempting to explain white collar crime, only the explanation of criminalization is required.