Question 1

Whose ideas influenced the decay of the classical school?

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin's ideas, particularly those related to evolution and natural selection, influenced the shift away from the classical school of criminology towards more biological explanations of criminal behavior, marking a significant change in the understanding of crime and human behavior.

Question 2

Critics of deterrence theory stated that ______ statistics are not adequate measures of the deterrence theoretical framework.

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that aggregate statistics, which compile data across different groups or time periods, fail to capture the nuances of individual behavior and decision-making processes, thus inadequately measuring the effectiveness of deterrence.

Question 3

White-collar criminals and ______ are two types of offenders who are most likely to be deterred because they are mostly of the middle- to upper-level socioeconomic status.

Accepted Answer

White-collar criminals and drunk drivers are more likely to be deterred by legal consequences because they often come from middle- to upper-level socioeconomic statuses, making them more susceptible to the impacts of legal penalties on their social and professional lives.

Question 4

Cross-sectional studies are based on ______.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies are designed to observe and analyze data from a population, or a representative subset, at one specific point in time.

Question 5

______ research is when a participant is given a specific scenario in which a crime has been committed and is asked to estimate the chance that he/she would engage in such activity in the given circumstances.

Accepted Answer

Scenario research involves presenting participants with specific situations or scenarios and asking them to respond or make decisions based on those scenarios. In this case, the scenario is a hypothetical crime, and participants are asked to estimate their likelihood of engaging in that crime under the given circumstances.

Question 6

High crime areas are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Hot spots are areas identified as having a high concentration of crime or criminal activity.

Question 7

When people's previous experiences highly influence their expectations regarding their chances of being caught, this is called ______.

Accepted Answer

The experiential effect refers to how people's past experiences shape their expectations, such as their perceived likelihood of being caught in a situation. This concept is often discussed in the context of criminal behavior, where individuals' previous encounters with law enforcement can influence their future actions and perceptions of risk.

Question 8

Which of the following illustrates the element 'lack of capable guardian' as it is presented in routine activities theory?

Accepted Answer

Routine activities theory suggests that for a crime to occur, three elements must be present: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. The choice "infrequent police patrol in neighborhood" illustrates the 'lack of capable guardian' because it indicates a reduced presence or effectiveness of guardianship, making it easier for crimes to occur due to less supervision or deterrence.

Question 9

The general model of routine activities theory was originally presented by ______ in 1979.

Accepted Answer

Cohen and Felson originally presented the general model of routine activities theory in 1979, focusing on the situational factors influencing crime rates.

Question 10

______ sanctions provide more of a deterrent effect for most people.

Accepted Answer

Informal sanctions are more likely to deter people from engaging in deviant behavior because they are more likely to be perceived as being more likely to be enforced.

Question 11

According to the book, what city is a good example of a city that realized a reduction in crime after implementing policies per the broken windows theory?

Accepted Answer

New York City is often cited as a prime example of the successful application of the broken windows theory. The theory posits that maintaining and monitoring urban environments to prevent small crimes such as vandalism, public drinking, and fare evasion helps to create an atmosphere of order and lawfulness, thereby preventing more serious crimes. In the 1990s, under the leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Police Commissioner William Bratton, New York City implemented policies that were aligned with the broken windows theory, which led to a significant reduction in both petty and serious crimes.

Question 12

According to routine activities theory, the victims of the Green River Killer were suitable targets because they ______.

Accepted Answer

According to routine activities theory, the victims of the Green River Killer were considered suitable targets because they were prostitutes. This theory suggests that crime occurs when a motivated offender encounters a suitable target without adequate protection. Prostitutes often work in isolated or less-protected environments, making them more vulnerable to being targeted.

Question 13

Which state is one of the states that passed the controversial three-strikes law?

Accepted Answer

California is known for its three-strikes law, which was passed in 1994. This law significantly increases the prison sentences of persons convicted of a felony who have been previously convicted of two or more violent crimes or serious felonies.

Question 14

Rational choice theory is a perspective that criminologists adapted from ______.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory in criminology was adapted from economists, as it applies the principles of making decisions based on rational calculations of maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, similar to economic decision-making processes.

Question 15

Who wrote The Reasoning Criminal: Rational Choice Perspectives of Offending in 1986?

Accepted Answer

Cornish and Clarke are the authors of "The Reasoning Criminal: Rational Choice Perspectives of Offending," published in 1986. This work is foundational in the rational choice theory of criminology.

Question 16

Longitudinal studies of deterrence provided a significant improvement over the previously used ______ studies.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies allow researchers to observe how variables change over time, offering a more dynamic understanding of deterrence than cross-sectional studies, which only provide a snapshot at a single point in time.

Question 17

______ and ______ factors of deterrence are the basis for the rational choice theory.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory posits that individuals weigh the costs and benefits of their actions, including criminal behavior, and make decisions based on this assessment. Formal factors of deterrence include legal penalties, while informal factors encompass social and personal consequences, such as loss of reputation or relationships.

Question 18

______ deterrence is used to target a particular offender.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence is aimed at discouraging a particular offender from committing future crimes by imposing a penalty on them.

Question 19

Which of the following represents the ideal situation in which crime will occur (according to routine activities theory)?

Accepted Answer

Routine activities theory suggests that for a crime to occur, three elements must be present: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. Option C (motivated offender, dark street, lone walker) best represents this scenario, as the dark street and lone walker indicate a suitable target without effective guardianship.

Question 20

Longitudinal studies are based on ______.

Accepted Answer

Longitudial studies involve collecting data from the same subjects repeatedly over a period of time, hence they are based on observations made over time.

Quiz 3: Modern Applications of the Classical Perspective: Deterrence, Rational Choice, and Routine Activities or Lifestyle Theories of Crime