Question 1

An explanation of delinquency that suggests that a child is possessed by a demon is a _____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

A spiritual explanation for delinquency involves supernatural elements, such as the belief in possession by demons, which is not grounded in scientific or empirical evidence but rather in spiritual or religious beliefs.

Question 2

The _____ school of criminology focuses on the offender rather than on the offense.

Accepted Answer

The positivist school of criminology focuses on the offender, including their biology, psychology, and social environment, rather than just the legal aspects of the crime.

Question 3

When was classical criminology developed?

Accepted Answer

Classical criminology was developed during the Enlightenment, a period emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition, spanning the late 17th to the 18th century.

Question 4

What is the important work of the juvenile justice system based on?

Accepted Answer

The juvenile justice system is primarily based on theories of juvenile delinquency, rehabilitation, and psychological development, guiding its practices and policies.

Question 5

A _____ is an educated guess.

Accepted Answer

A hypothesis is an educated guess that can be tested through experimentation.

Question 6

A _____ is based on real-life observations and data and is an important tool for understanding the world.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

Question 7

This refers to the rules for the systematic pursuit of knowledge, typically the recognition and formulation of a problem.

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves systematic observation, measurement, experimentation, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses, which aligns with the description given.

Question 8

Which criterion must be addressed when evaluating theories?

Accepted Answer

When evaluating theories, it is important to consider logical consistency (the theory should not contain internal contradictions), scope (the range of phenomena the theory can explain), and parsimony (the theory should be as simple as possible while still effectively explaining the phenomena). Therefore, all of these criteria must be addressed.

Question 9

Which is a step in the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

The scientific method involves making educated guesses (hypotheses), asking questions, and considering all relevant data, which means none of the options A, B, or C are steps in the scientific method.

Question 10

The law of retaliation.

Accepted Answer

The law of retaliation is known as "lex talionis," a Latin phrase that translates to "the law of retaliation," often associated with the principle of "an eye for an eye."

Question 11

According to Pfohl, demonic explanations of deviant behavior were of two types: road of temptation and road of _____.

Accepted Answer

According to Pfohl, demonic explanations of deviant behavior were categorized into two types: the road of temptation and the road of possession. This perspective views deviant behavior as influenced by supernatural forces, either through the temptation by demonic entities or direct possession by them.

Question 12

The control of behavior through the fear of consequences is _____.

Accepted Answer

Deterrence is the concept of controlling behavior by fear of consequences, often used in the context of criminal justice to prevent people from committing crimes.

Question 13

This term describes the ability or discretion to make choices that are unaffected by agencies such as fate or divine will.

Accepted Answer

Free will refers to the concept of individuals having the ability to make choices that are not predetermined by external forces, such as fate or divine intervention. This contrasts with determinism, which suggests that all events, including human actions, are determined by causes external to the will.

Question 14

Scholars have learned that the size, density, and _____ of a population greatly influence economic and social policies.

Accepted Answer

Heterogeneity refers to the diversity within a population, which can significantly impact economic and social policies.

Question 15

This is an economic system characterized by the private or corporate ownership of production and distribution with the prices and production of goods determined by market competition.

Accepted Answer

Capitalism is defined by private or corporate ownership of the means of production and the distribution of goods, with prices and production levels determined by competition in the market.

Question 16

This thinker laid out nine principles that he claimed would produce more effective and humane justice.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria, an Italian criminologist, philosopher, and politician, is known for his treatise "On Crimes and Punishments" (1764), where he laid out his arguments against the death penalty and torture, advocating for the reform of the criminal justice system based on rational and humane principles. His work is considered foundational in the fields of criminal law and criminology.

Question 17

The idea that potential offenders plan their actions in order to maximize pleasure and minimize pain is _____.

Accepted Answer

Hedonistic calculus is the concept that potential offenders weigh the potential pleasure and pain of an action before deciding to commit it, aligning with the principles of utilitarianism.

Question 18

This thinker reasoned that deterrence theory is a major part of the way that society should respond to crime.

Accepted Answer

Bentham is known for his deterrence theory, which argues that the best way to prevent crime is to make the punishment for committing a crime so severe that it outweighs the benefits of committing the crime.

Question 19

According to deterrence theory, what beliefs do potential offenders need in order to be deterred from breaking the law?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence theory posits that for offenders to be deterred from committing crimes, they must believe that they will be caught (C), that the detection will be swift (B), and that the punishment will be severe enough to outweigh the benefits of the crime (A).

Question 20

Age ratios, neighborhood conditions, and the presence of illegal drugs are all examples of _____ variables.

Accepted Answer

These are all examples of demographic variables, which refer to statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it, such as age ratios, neighborhood conditions, and the presence of illegal drugs.

Quiz 3: Theoretical Foundations of Crime and Delinquency