Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Latent traits are viewed as present at birth or emerging shortly thereafter, influencing behavior across a person's lifetime.

Question 2

Gottfredson and Hirschi trace the root cause of poor self-control to ______.

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that poor self-control is primarily a result of inadequate child-rearing practices, where parents fail to monitor their children's behavior, recognize deviant behavior when it occurs, and punish it appropriately.

Question 3

According to the general theory of crime, being adventuresome, physical, and self-centered are all signs that a person possess ______.

Accepted Answer

The general theory of crime posits that low self-control is the root cause of criminal behavior. Being adventuresome, physical, and self-centered are all traits associated with low self-control, as individuals with low self-control tend to prioritize immediate gratification over long-term goals and consequences.

Question 4

Adolescents who do not engage in any deviant behavior, a path which places them outside the norm for their age group are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Adolescents who do not engage in any deviant behavior are called abstainers. This means that they abstain from any activities that place them outside the norm for their age group. The other options (B, C, D) do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 5

A pathway to deviance that begins at an early age with stubborn behavior and leads to property damage, and eventually escalates to more serious forms of theft and fraud.

Accepted Answer

The authority conflict pathway is a pathway to deviance that begins at an early age with stubborn behavior and leads to property damage, and eventually escalates to more serious forms of theft and fraud.

Question 6

Although criminal offenders are people predisposed to crime, they are not robots who commit crime without restraint. According to the general theory of crime, change in the frequency of criminal activity is a function of ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although criminal offenders are people predisposed to...

Question 7

According to Wilson and Herrnstein's crime and human nature view, a criminal incident occurs when an individual chooses criminal over conventional behavior. What factor influences that choice?

Accepted Answer

Wilson and Herrnstein's theory suggests that a latent trait, which is a stable characteristic, influences an individual's choice between criminal and conventional behavior.

Question 8

According to psychologist Terrie Moffit, most young offenders follow one of two paths; adolescent-limited and ______.

Accepted Answer

Terrie Moffit's research suggests that most young offenders follow one of two paths: adolescent-limited offenders, who engage in criminal behavior only during adolescence, and life course persisters, who continue their criminal behavior into adulthood. The other answer choices, age of onsetters and adolescent pre-disposers, are not terms used by Moffit to describe types of young offenders. Abstainers are individuals who do not engage in criminal behavior.

Question 9

Cognitive frameworks that help people quickly process and sort through information are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive frameworks that help people quickly process and sort through information are called schemas. Schemas are mental structures that organize our knowledge, beliefs, and experiences, making it easier for us to make sense of new information and situations. They also influence our perception and interpretation of events and can lead to biases and stereotypes.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Terrie Moffit's theory posits that adolescent-limited offenders are typically well-adjusted individuals who engage in delinquent behavior during adolescence as a result of peer pressure and social norms. These behaviors often do not continue into adulthood. They are not described as angry or classic persisters, nor are they necessarily standard youth as they may have engaged in delinquent behavior during adolescence that does not define their overall character.

Question 11

Gottfredson and Hirschi claim that the principles of self-control theory ______.

Accepted Answer

Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory is a general theory of crime that can be applied to all varieties of criminal behavior, not just one specific type of crime. According to the theory, individuals with low self-control are more likely to engage in criminal behavior regardless of the type of crime.

Question 12

According to Laub and Sampson, the life-changing events that alter the development of a criminal career are called ______.

Accepted Answer

Laub and Sampson refer to life-changing events as turning points, as these events can significantly alter the trajectory of an individual's criminal career.

Question 13

Which of the following statements regarding gender differences and the general theory of crime is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements regarding gender...

Question 14

A pathway to a criminal career that begins with minor aggression and eventually escalates to violent crime.

Accepted Answer

The Overt pathway begins with minor acts of aggression, such as bullying or vandalism, and progresses to more serious violent crimes. This pathway is characterized by a lack of impulse control and a willingness to confront others to resolve conflicts.

Question 15

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 emphasizes the importance of social capital as a protective factor against long-term deviance. Building strong social bonds with family, friends, school, work, and community can provide social support, resources, and positive role models that discourage engaging in criminal activities. Knowledge, marketable skills, and financial capital alone may not necessarily prevent deviance, but they may facilitate individuals' access to legitimate opportunities and social networks that contribute to social capital.

Question 16

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 in terms of the empirical research supporting Laub and Sampson's age-graded theory. The theory suggests that criminal trajectories can be altered by changes in social capital and life events, leading to desistance from crime.

Question 17

In their general theory of crime, Gottfredson and Hirschi consider the criminal offender and the criminal act as _______concepts.

Accepted Answer

In their general theory of crime, Gottfredson and Hirschi view the criminal offender and the criminal act as separate concepts. They argue that criminal behavior is not the result of social or environmental factors, but rather the result of low self-control, a trait that is developed early in life through inadequate parenting. Therefore, they see the offender (i.e. an individual with low self-control) and the criminal act (i.e. the result of the individual's low self-control) as distinct from one another.

Question 18

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

According to Laub and Sampson, transitions are short-term events that are embedded in trajectories, which are the long-term pathways or life course of an individual.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Buying a car is not considered a significant life-changing event that reduces criminality according to Laub and Sampson. Joining the military, getting married, and getting a job are all significant life events associated with reductions in criminal behavior.

Question 20

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 explain criminality.

Quiz 9: Developmental Theories: Life Course, Propensity, and Trajectory