Question 1

Developmental theories attempt to provide a natural history of criminal careers by encompassing:

Accepted Answer

Developmental theories aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of criminal careers by incorporating the onset, continuation, and termination of criminal behavior. These theories look at the various factors that influence an individual's criminal trajectory, such as family background, peer relationships, and life events, and how they interact over time to shape criminal behavior. Delinquency and criminal behaviors are part of this overall trajectory, but not the only focus. Uni-dimensional and multidimensional treatment efforts are also part of some theories, but not necessarily all. Offenders' race/ethnicity, age, and gender may be variables that are considered within the theories, but they do not encompass the entirety of the theories themselves.

Question 2

Life course theorists examine offending patterns and trends. Terrie Moffit describes adolescent-limited offenders as:

Accepted Answer

Moffit describes adolescent-limited offenders as typical teenagers who engage in delinquent behavior during adolescence but grow out of it as they transition into adulthood. These individuals have no prior history of problematic behavior and their delinquent behavior is often influenced by situational factors such as peer pressure or rebellion against authority.

Question 3

Laub and Sampson identify life events that enable adult offenders to desist from crime. Accordingly, they identify transitions as short-term events embedded in:

Accepted Answer

Laub and Sampson's theory of desistance emphasizes the importance of life events and transitions in enabling adult offenders to move away from criminal behavior. Transitions are defined as short-term events that occur within the overall trajectory or pathway of an individual's life. These transitions can be positive or negative, such as getting a job, getting married, or experiencing a serious illness or loss. However, they are important in disrupting an individual's previous pattern of criminal behavior and allowing them to make positive changes in their life. Therefore, the best choice is A) Trajectories, as it highlights the importance of transitions in the context of an individual's overall life trajectory.

Question 4

Public policy programs based on developmental theory:

Accepted Answer

Public policy programs based on developmental theory focus on preventing criminal behavior by addressing risk factors in at-risk youths' lives. Multi-systemic treatments aim to intervene with the families, schools, and communities to reduce these risk factors and promote positive development. This approach is preventative rather than punitive, unlike deterrence through strict punishments (A). Although mechanisms for reintegrating offenders into society (B) and self-help treatments for adult offenders (C) can be helpful components of public policy programs, they are not typically based on developmental theory.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the significant life-changing events that reduces criminality, according to Laub and Sampson?

Accepted Answer

Laub and Sampson's research suggests that significant life-changing events that reduce criminality include joining the military, getting married, and getting a job. Buying a car is not typically considered a significant life-changing event in this context.

Question 6

Bacon and Paternoster identified this pathway to crime characterized by staying out of trouble during adolescence, until late in one's teenage years, then becoming violent chronic offenders.

Accepted Answer

The pathway described in the question refers to the late bloomer pathway, as identified by Bacon and Paternoster. This pathway is characterized by individuals who stay out of trouble during adolescence, but become involved in criminal behavior during their late teenage years or early adulthood.

Question 7

Latent trait theorists believe human development is controlled by a master trait present at birth or soon after that results in:

Accepted Answer

Latent trait theorists argue that a master trait, present from birth or shortly thereafter, influences an individual's propensity to commit crime. This perspective suggests that certain inherent or early-developing characteristics predispose individuals to criminal behavior.

Question 8

The integrative methodology in the early research of __________ formed the basis of today's developmental approach.

Accepted Answer

Eleanor Glueck and Sheldon Glueck's integrative methodology in studying juvenile delinquency laid the groundwork for modern developmental and life-course criminology.

Question 9

Because they combine personal, social, socialization, cognitive, and situational factors, life course theories are described as:

Accepted Answer

Life course theories are described as integrated theories because they incorporate multiple factors and perspectives to understand human development and behavior over time.

Question 10

How do life course theorists view criminality?

Accepted Answer

Life course theorists view criminality as a dynamic process, meaning it is influenced by various factors and changes over the course of an individual's life. They believe that criminal behavior is not an inflexible or static attribute, but rather can be shaped by a range of experiences such as relationships, opportunities, and life events. Additionally, life course theorists also recognize the importance of understanding the development and accumulation of risk factors that can contribute to criminal behavior over time.

Question 11

Aside from identifying several specific pathways to crime, what else did Lober discover about criminal pathways?

Accepted Answer

Lober discovered that some individuals can enter multiple criminal pathways simultaneously, indicating a more complex interaction with criminal behavior.

Question 12

Using data from a longitudinal study of Pittsburgh youth, Loeber identified distinct pathways to crime. Which pathway begins at an early age with stubborn behavior?

Accepted Answer

The authority conflict pathway begins with stubborn behavior at an early age and involves defiance, aggression, and authority issues. This pathway is characterized by a lack of respect for authority and is often linked to early-onset delinquency. Loeber's study identified this as one of several distinct pathways to crime.

Question 13

Life course theories integrate personal, social, socialization, situational and cognitive factors to explain human behavior. Personality and intelligence are __________ factors that can explain the onset and continuation of criminality.

Accepted Answer

Personality and intelligence are personal factors that can contribute to criminal behavior.

Question 14

Why is early onset an important factor in crime?

Accepted Answer

Early onset of antisocial behavior has been found to be a strong predictor of later and more serious criminality. Identifying and addressing these behaviors early on can potentially prevent individuals from becoming chronic offenders.

Question 15

Which is an inaccurate statement about problem behaviors and problem behavior syndrome?

Accepted Answer

This statement is inaccurate because problem behavior syndrome does not necessarily portray crime as the product of other social problems. It is a concept that refers to a pattern of behaviors that includes a range of problematic and risky behaviors, such as substance abuse, delinquency, violence, and antisocial behavior. While some of these behaviors may be influenced by social problems, such as poverty or family dysfunction, others may not be directly related to social factors. Therefore, problem behavior syndrome should not be seen as simply the product of social problems, but rather as a complex phenomenon that involves multiple factors.

Question 16

According to latent trait theory, when does a latent trait appear?

Accepted Answer

Latent trait theory posits that traits are innate and present from birth or soon after, and can develop and manifest over time through experience and environmental factors.

Question 17

Sampson and Laub's research indicates that building __________ and strong social bonds reduces the likelihood of long-term deviance.

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Laub's research demonstrates that building social capital, or strong social bonds with family, friends, and community, can reduce the likelihood of long-term deviance. This social capital provides individuals with a sense of attachment, commitment, and investment in their social networks and society, which can discourage them from engaging in deviant behavior. Building knowledge, marketable skills, or financial capital may also be beneficial, but they are not specifically mentioned in relation to reducing long-term deviance in Sampson and Laub's research.

Question 18

According to life course theories, criminal opportunity, effective guardianship, and apprehension risk are __________ factors that can explain the onset, continuance, and desistance from crime.

Accepted Answer

Criminal opportunity, effective guardianship, and apprehension risk are situational factors that refer to the specific opportunities and risks that individuals encounter in their everyday life that can either increase or decrease the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior.

Question 19

One of the key principles of life course theory is that:

Accepted Answer

The key principle of life course theory is that the seeds of a criminal career are planted early in life. Life course theory emphasizes the importance of studying individual development over time and the ways in which early experiences and circumstances can shape future trajectories. This includes the recognition that early childhood behaviors and experiences can have long-lasting implications for later outcomes, including criminal behavior.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is inaccurate in terms of the empirical research supporting Laub and Sampson's age-graded theory?

Accepted Answer

The statement that "criminal career trajectories are impossible to reverse, even if life conditions improve" is inaccurate. Laub and Sampson's age-graded theory emphasizes the importance of turning points and transitions in individuals' lives that can lead to desistance from crime. This theory suggests that life events, such as getting married, having children, or finding stable employment, can change an individual's behavior and reduce involvement in criminal activities. Therefore, criminal career trajectories are not necessarily fixed or irreversible.

Quiz 9: Developmental Theories: Life Course and Latent Trait