Deck 1: Crime,criminals,and Criminology

Question 1

Which of the following is considered an informal rule in Canadian society?

A) "Don't drive over the speed limit."
B) "Don't talk with your mouth full."
C) "Thou shall not kill."
D) "Obey the law."

Answer 1

B

Question 2

According to "Box 1.1: Crime and the Media," what is the research consensus with regard to children who are exposed to a great deal of television violence?

A) They almost invariably become violent themselves.
B) They do not differ significantly in violence from those less exposed to television violence.
C) Research results are mixed but there is some suggestion that exposure to media violence may predispose children to be more violent.
D) They almost invariably become more accepting of violent behaviour.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

According to "Box 1.1: Crime and the Media," what is often overlooked or left out of media reports of crime?

A) the role of the police in apprehending the criminal
B) broader social issues such as class and ethnicity
C) the sentence received by the offender
D) the reasons the offender is thought to have committed the crime

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following best describes criminologists?

A) academics who study the criminal justice system and crime from a variety of perspectives
B) front-line workers who detect and apprehend criminals
C) investigators who determine the causes of crimes in their communities
D) scientists who study changes in types of crime over time

Question 5

According to Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey,which of the following best describes criminology?

A) a body of knowledge that focuses primarily on the creation of laws and reacting to the breaking of laws
B) a body of knowledge made up of a consistent set of principles that guide different societies
C) a body of knowledge that regards crime as a social phenomenon
D) a body of knowledge that focuses on how crime is controlled

Question 6

To understand crime we must know the different characteristics of people who commit crimes and study the differences in crime found in the city versus a town.What aspect of criminology does this analysis fall under?

A) origins and role of law
B) causation of crime
C) social distribution of crime
D) patterns of criminal behaviour

Question 7

When criminologists ask such questions as: "Who are the offenders?","Who are the victims?",and "Under what social circumstances are offences most likely to occur?",what are they attempting to Bloom's Analyze?

A) societal reactions to crime
B) the social distribution of crime
C) patterns of criminal behaviour
D) the causes of crime

Question 8

Robert and Danny Sand,the brothers from Alberta,led undisciplined criminal lives,as described at the beginning ofChapter 1.To which of the following can we largely attribute their criminal behaviour?

A) sociological explanations such as early socialization
B) cultural definitions of what constitutes crime at any given point in time
C) psychological makeup
D) biological traits

Question 9

What is the term for the established rules of behaviour or standards of conduct in a given society?

A) beliefs
B) conventions
C) norms
D) values

Question 10

The cases of Robert and Danny Sand,the brothers from Alberta,and Aaron Driver,the "would-be bomber" near London,Ontario,highlight which aspect of criminology?

A) Penalties for homicide in Canada are too weak.
B) Race is a better predictor of homicide than religion.
C) Killing because of a strong religious belief can exonerate a suspect.
D) There are many different theoretical explanations for homicide.

Question 11

In Canadian society,having children use a fork when eating (instead of using one's fingers)is an example of which of the following?

A) a value
B) a universal norm
C) formal rules
D) informal rules (folkways)

Question 12

Which of the following aspects of the criminology discipline would include prisons?

A) origin and role of law
B) definition of crime and criminals
C) crime causation
D) societal reactions to crime

Question 13

According to "Box 1.1: Crime and the Media," what is the news media's informal rule for covering crime?

A) "Cover Cops,Courts,and Corrections."
B) "Sex,drugs,and violence preferred."
C) "If it bleeds,it leads."
D) "Where there's smoke,there's fire,and a story."

Question 14

Which of the following types of crime are overrepresented in media coverage compared to their incidence in real life?

A) white-collar crime
B) violent crime
C) political crime
D) property crime

Question 15

Which of the following is indicated in the textbook as an important reason for us to know more about crime?

A) Surveys have shown that crime is the most important social problem facing Canada today.
B) It is worthwhile to learn about all aspects of social behaviour,including crime.
C) Crime rates are steadily increasing and we need to be prepared.
D) The criminal justice system is the biggest employer of new graduates out of post-secondary institutions in Canada.

Question 16

According to "Box 1.1: Crime and the Media," what is meant by the term "cultural scripts" in relation to rampage shooters?

A) they typically leave a note outlining their reasons for committing the crime
B) they usually are males between 17 and 24 years of age
C) they tend to be classified according to cultural stereotypes in media reports
D) they often plan their crimes based on information outlined in the media about previous rampage shootings

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of informal social control?

A) you stay late at work most nights and find that this helps you feel more organized
B) a man is given a suspended sentence for a charge of arson
C) the police charge a young person with theft after she is caught with three bags of candy in her purse
D) you tell your slow friend that if he isn't ready to go on time tomorrow you will leave without him

Question 18

According to "Box 1.1: Crime and the Media," which of the following is a consequence of the media's coverage of crime in Canada?

A) Canadians are less likely to support greater crime control agendas.
B) Canadians have a fear of crime that is lower than their actual risk of being victimized.
C) Canadians greatly overestimate the amount of violent crime.
D) Canadians underestimate the proportion of violent crimes committed by anonymous strangers.

Question 19

An analysis of how people break the rules established in a society is most closely associated with which of the following criminological perspectives.

A) the legalistic perspective
B) human rights violations as crime
C) Hagan's continuum of crime and deviance
D) conflict perspective

Question 20

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the social distribution of crime?

A) programs that help young people avoid a life of crime
B) an analysis of the relationship between school grades and violence
C) the relatively higher rate of criminal offending by young aboriginal men
D) changes in lengths of prison sentences over time

Question 21

Which of the following labels do criminologists apply to crimes committed by middle- and upper-class people in the course of their legitimate business activities?

A) blue-collar crime
B) white-collar crime
C) pink-collar crime
D) "society" crimes

Question 22

According to Hagan's typology of crime and deviance,which of the following best describes a social diversion?

A) somewhat harmful with strong agreement about the norm
B) relatively harmless with confusion or apathy about the norm
C) somewhat harmful with strong disagreement about the norm
D) very harmful with strong agreement about the norm

Question 23

"Everyone believes that stealing goes against our belief in private ownership." Within which of the following approaches to crime does this view fall?

A) green criminology
B) class conflict theory
C) human rights criminology
D) consensus theory

Question 24

In Canada most people would argue that mass murder is wrong,but there is little agreement over the issue of using marijuana.This statement reflects which dimension of Hagan's typology of crime and deviance?

A) the severity of the society's response to the act
B) the assessment of the degree of harm of the act
C) the degree of consensus that an act is wrong
D) the accuracy of the belief systems

Question 25

According to the textbook,the severe penalties in Canada for the trafficking of "street" drugs such as crack cocaine,compared to the relatively lenient penalties for white-collar crimes,such as fraud,can best be explained through which of the following perspectives?

A) human rights
B) conflict theory
C) consensus theory
D) green criminology

Question 26

According to Hagan,how is the continuous variable of social deviance best understood?

A) It is static and does not change over time.
B) It is measured using a scale that ranges from the most to the least serious of acts.
C) It is seen to increase as a society becomes more economically developed.
D) It can best be defined by criminal laws.

Question 27

Hagan proposed that deviance and crime be considered on a continuum ranging from the least serious to the most serious acts and that seriousness can be assessed on three dimensions.What are the three dimensions Hagan referred to?

A) time of day,place,and harm done
B) nature of punishment,government in power,and age of offender
C) degree of harm,number of victims,and remorse
D) degree of consensus,severity of society's response,and degree of harm

Question 28

Which of the following is an example of a consensus crime?

A) drug use
B) homicide
C) prostitution
D) pornography

Question 29

Which of the following reflects the belief that criminal laws represent an agreement by most people in a society that certain acts are harmful and should be treated as crimes?

A) the sociological perspective
B) the conflict theory
C) the legalistic perspective
D) the consensus theory

Question 30

Which of the following best describes Sutherland's assessment of white-collar crime?

A) it is just as harmful as street crime and is worthy of attention and research
B) it is best dealt with internally as the harm is far less than that caused by street criminals
C) it is easily detected and successfully prosecuted in court
D) its impact is far more damaging than that caused by street crime

Question 31

Which of the following pieces of legislation sets out the majority of criminal offences for Canada?

A) the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
B) the Canadian Constitution
C) the Youth Criminal Justice Act
D) the Criminal Code of Canada

Question 32

The legalistic perspective of criminology is most closely associated with which of the following:

A) how crime in a society is defined by laws
B) how social patterns of crime emerge
C) the causes of crime
D) how society is defined by criminal laws

Question 33

The statement "criminal behaviour is generally defined by criminal laws,but not all deviant behaviour falls under criminal laws," is consistent with which of the following criminological perspectives?

A) legalistic perspective
B) human rights violations as crime
C) Hagan's continuum of crime and deviance
D) consensus theory

Question 34

Criminal laws are best described as which of the following?

A) informal rules that govern behaviour in a society
B) formal rules that govern behaviour in a society
C) static rules that are consistent throughout time
D) the part of the criminal justice system that applies to private individuals

Question 35

Historically,before the rise of criminal laws and the criminal justice system,harmful behaviour committed against others was treated as which of the following?

A) a private matter between private citizens
B) a matter that always involved the state
C) a matter that only involved lawyers
D) acts considered as harms against society as a whole

Question 36

In Canadian society,we judge people on the basis of their honesty.In sociological terms,which of the following does honesty best represent?

A) informal rules
B) norms
C) values
D) laws

Question 37

Theories of crime causation that view the root causes of crime as stemming from poverty,a lack of power,racism,and marginalization would have a particularly difficult time explaining which of the following categories of crime?

A) property theft
B) organized crime
C) white-collar crime
D) violent crime

Question 38

In Hagan's typology of crime and deviance,which of the following is the most serious category?

A) consensus crimes
B) social diversions
C) conflict crimes
D) social deviations

Question 39

Which of the following best fits into Sutherland's definition of white-collar crime?

A) an offence committed by a lower-class person against a business run by an upper-class person
B) a homicide committed by an upper-class person against another upper-class person
C) an offence committed by a middle- or upper-class person in the course of running a legitimate business
D) theft of property perpetrated by an upper-class person against another upper-class person

Question 40

The view that criminal laws and government policies support the wealthy and disadvantage the poor is reflective of which of the following criminological perspectives?

A) Hagan's continuum of crime and deviance
B) human rights violations as crime
C) consensus theory
D) legalistic perspective

Question 41

Which of the following is a key issue being examined by those involved with surveillance studies?

A) ensuring there are sufficient cameras to detect crime in public spaces
B) balancing privacy rights and protection of the public
C) educating the public on the benefits of surveillance
D) involving businesses in criminal surveillance

Question 42

Which of the following statements best describes terrorism?

A) the murder of innocent civilians by their own government
B) the use of force committed against a government by another government
C) illegitimate use of force committed by a government against its own people
D) the use of force against innocent people by a group trying to achieve a political objective

Question 43

Historically,before the rise of the criminal justice system,harmful behaviour against others was treated as a private matter.

Question 44

The most common definition of a crime in Canadian society is a legalistic one.

Question 45

The depiction of crime in the Canadian media is a fair and balanced representation of the scope and nature of crime in this country.

Question 46

Criminology is the scientific body of knowledge that examines crime (and its treatment)as a social phenomenon.

Question 47

As one of the major focuses of criminology,the social distribution of crime would include examining the causes of crime and criminality.

Question 48

According to the textbook,we need to reduce crime before we can understand it.

Question 49

The "CSI effect" has led jurors to expect that they will be presented with forensic evidence that will make their role easy.

Question 50

Informal social control governs the vast majority of individual behaviour in Canadian society.

Question 51

Most Canadians learn about serious crime from first-hand experience.

Question 52

The where and when of crime can help us understand causes of crime.

Question 53

Which of the following is an example of an issue covered by the discipline of green criminology?

A) price fixing on environmental products
B) violent acts committed by pipeline protestors
C) the illegal dumping of hazardous waste
D) teenagers violating smoking bylaws

Question 54

In Canada,provinces and territories can pass and amend criminal laws.

Question 55

"If it bleeds,it leads" refers to the priority that police place on investigating violent crimes.

Question 56

What does the textbook define as "illegitimate use of force to achieve a political objective by targeting innocent people"?

A) vigilantism
B) crimes against humanity
C) terrorism
D) human rights violations

Question 57

Most Canadians learn about crime through the media.

Question 58

Which of the following statements best describes the perspective of group conflict theory?

A) Laws are constantly changing.
B) Not everyone will agree with the laws in place in a society.
C) The powerful have the most influence over the nature of a society's laws.
D) Groups with opposing views impact policy and law through conflict and debate.

Question 59

Which of the following best characterizes the class conflict theory of lawmaking?

A) Laws are passed to minimize conflict between competing criminals.
B) Laws are passed by members of the ruling class in order to maintain their privileged position by keeping the common people under control.
C) Laws are passed based by a consensus of society in order to reduce conflict within that society.
D) Laws are passed by governments in order to reduce conflict within society.

Question 60

Historically,white-collar crime was not studied by criminologists because no one knew such crimes were taking place.

Question 61

Acts committed by terrorists fit within consensus perspectives because their intent to harm is clearly agreed upon universally.

Question 62

Criminal and non-criminal acts are always two distinct categories.

Question 63

The conflict perspective understands the definition of crime to be factual and precise.

Question 64

Conflict theories of crime outline the ability of the lower classes to make change based on their power in numbers.

Question 65

An act is deviant only if a society defines it that way.

Question 66

One of the earliest topics in the study of criminality by criminologists was white collar crime.

Question 67

The criminalization of marijuana is a good example of the consensus perspective of criminal law-making.

Question 68

Hagan's continuum of crime and deviance contends that the amount of harm caused by a particular act must be taken into consideration when determining whether that act should be deemed criminal.

Question 69

There is something inherently unlawful about killing another human being.

Question 70

According to Hagan's continuum of crime and deviance,the degree of society's consensus that an act is wrong is the only factor that determines whether a particular act constitutes a crime.

Question 71

Advocates of a human rights approach to criminology argue that social harms are largely committed by the lower class against the lower class.