Question 1

According to critical theorists, crime is a:

Accepted Answer

Critical theorists argue that crime is not an objective concept, but rather a social construct shaped by those in power. They contend that the criminal justice system and laws are designed to protect the interests of the ruling class, including the preservation of inequality and the suppression of dissent. Therefore, crime is seen as a political concept designed to protect the power and position of the upper classes.

Question 2

What type of research methodology is a critical criminologist most likely to employ?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

Some government experts use the "ticking Bomb scenario," to justify which type of state crime?

Accepted Answer

The "ticking Bomb scenario" is often used to justify the use of torture by governments to obtain information that may prevent an imminent terrorist attack or other catastrophic event. However, torture is a violation of human rights and is illegal under international law.

Question 4

Supranational criminology is a specialization of critical theory that focuses on which type of crimes?

Accepted Answer

Supranational criminology focuses on crimes that transcend national boundaries and often involve international law, such as war crimes.

Question 5

__________ reflects a critical perspective that explains both the exploitation of women and women's criminality in terms of gender inequality and patriarchy.

Accepted Answer

Critical feminism is the only perspective listed that specifically addresses the exploitation of women and women's criminality in terms of gender inequality and patriarchy. Left realism focuses on the relationship between crime and social inequality, but does not specifically address gender inequality. Supranational criminology examines crime across borders and Restorative justice focuses on repairing harm caused by crime, but neither specifically address gender inequality and its relationship to women's criminality.

Question 6

Profits produced by the laboring classes are accrued by business owners who use these profits for reinvestment or to enrich themselves. This key crime-producing effort of modern corporate capitalism is termed:

Accepted Answer

Surplus value refers to the profits produced by the laboring class that are accrued by business owners. This concept is key to understanding crime in modern corporate capitalism. Excess abundance, profit distribution, and differential wealth are not directly related to this concept.

Question 7

The publication of Taylor, Walton, and Young's __________ in 1973 gave a powerful boost to the conflict view and created a tradition for critical criminologists to question the role criminology plays in supporting the status quo and aiding the oppression of the poor and powerless.

Accepted Answer

The publication referred to in the sentence is "The New Criminology" by Taylor, Walton, and Young, which is mentioned as being influential in promoting the conflict view and critical criminology. The other answer choices are not relevant to the sentence's meaning.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a basic concern of critical criminologists?

Accepted Answer

The increased effect of mass media pertaining to demystifying the law is not a basic concern of critical criminologists. The other options are all concerns of critical criminologists.

Question 9

According to this type of critical theory, the poor may or may not commit more crimes than the rich, but the poor are certainly arrested and punished more often.

Accepted Answer

Instrumental critical theory suggests that the law and criminal justice system are tools used by the powerful to control the poor, leading to more frequent arrests and harsher punishments for the poor compared to the rich.

Question 10

The social ferment of the ____ gave birth to critical criminology.

Accepted Answer

The social ferment of the 1960s, characterized by civil rights movements, anti-war protests, and youth counterculture, gave birth to critical criminology. Critical criminologists reject traditional theories of crime and criminal justice, arguing that they reflect and maintain the political and economic interests of the ruling class.

Question 11

Globalization is of particular concern for critical theorists. What concept inherent in globalization do critical theorists find problematic?

Accepted Answer

Critical theorists find the concept of surplus value inherent in globalization problematic. They argue that globalization leads to exploitation of labor in developing countries, where workers are paid low wages and forced to work in poor conditions to produce goods for consumption in developed countries. This results in increased profits for multinational corporations but perpetuates a cycle of poverty and inequality for workers in the global South.

Question 12

What is the key difference between instrumental theorists and structural theorists?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the key difference between instrumental...

Question 13

According to Messerschmidt's views in Capitalism, Patriarchy, and Crime what factor explains why females in society commit fewer crimes than males?

Accepted Answer

Messerschmidt's concept of "double marginality" explains that females experience marginalization both in terms of gender and class, which limits their opportunities and involvement in crime compared to males.

Question 14

Mainstream criminologists level a number of criticisms against critical criminology. Which is not one of those criticisms?

Accepted Answer

Mainstream criminologists do not criticize critical criminology for focusing too heavily on problems and conflicts in socialist countries. This criticism is not relevant as critical criminology tends to focus on the injustices and inequalities that exist within capitalist societies.

Question 15

Critical theorists question the altruism of multi-national corporations and, therefore, take a very skeptical view of:

Accepted Answer

Critical theorists view multi-national corporations as exploitative entities that prioritize profit over the well-being of society and the environment. Globalization is seen as a tool that enables these corporations to expand their reach and power, often at the expense of local communities and workers. Therefore, critical theorists take a skeptical view of globalization.

Question 16

When a government or political authority makes use of death squads to kill political opponents, dissenters, or other undesirables, what type of crime has been committed?

Accepted Answer

This type of action would be classified as state violence, which involves the use of physical force and intimidation by a government or its agents against its citizens. The use of death squads to target political opponents or other individuals is a clear violation of human rights and the rule of law. It is not considered political corruption, as that typically involves abuses of power for personal gain. Torture and illegal domestic surveillance may also be involved, but they would not fully capture the scope of this type of crime.

Question 17

According to conflict theorists, societal conflict promotes crime by:

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that societal conflict arises from the unequal distribution of resources and power in society. This inequality creates a social atmosphere in which the law is used as a mechanism for controlling have-not members of society, leading to higher crime rates among those who are disadvantaged. The criminal justice system is viewed as a tool used to maintain the status quo and protect the interests of the powerful, rather than to promote justice and equality for all. In this perspective, crime is seen as a product of social conflict and injustice rather than a result of individual pathology or deviant behavior.

Question 18

____ describes the anti-social behaviors that arise from efforts to maintain governmental power or to uphold the race, class, and gender advantages of those who support the government.

Accepted Answer

State (organized) crime refers to criminal behavior committed by governmental officials, often in the pursuit of maintaining power or protecting the interests of those in power. This type of crime can also include actions taken to uphold societal inequalities based on race, class, and gender. Power-control crime theories, instrumental theories, and structural theories can all be used to explain state crime, but B is the most specific answer.

Question 19

While mainstream criminologists criticize critical criminologists, what do critical criminologists accuse mainstream criminologists of doing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of While mainstream criminologists criticize critical criminologists, what...

Question 20

Instrumental theorists consider it essential to __________ law and justice - that is, to unmask its true purpose.

Accepted Answer

Instrumental theorists believe that law and justice can be used as tools to maintain power and control, and therefore, it is necessary to demystify or reveal their true purpose. Decertify, debunk, and decode do not accurately reflect this perspective.

Quiz 8: Social Conflict and Critical Criminology