Question 1

One objection to radical theory is that the radical definition of crime as the violation of human rights is too narrow and specific.

Accepted Answer

The objection to radical theory is often that its definition of crime, focusing on social harm and violations of human rights, is too broad and unspecific, encompassing a wide range of harmful activities not traditionally classified as crimes in legal terms.

Question 2

Psychopaths,sociopaths,or antisocial personalities are characterized by no sense of guilt,no subjective conscience,and no sense of right and wrong.

Accepted Answer

Psychopaths, sociopaths, and antisocial personalities are all characterized by a lack of guilt, subjective conscience, and understanding of right and wrong.

Question 3

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-A theory that there is a contradiction between the cultural goal of achieving wealth and the social structure's inability to provide legitimate institutional means for achieving the goal.Alternately,a theory that crime is caused by the inability of juveniles to achieve status among peers by socially acceptable means.

Accepted Answer

The theory described is anomie/strain theory, which suggests that individuals may turn to crime when they experience a disconnection between their desired goals and the means available to achieve them within society.

Answer: M

Differential association theory argues that individuals learn criminal behavior through their social networks and interactions, rather than from any inherent biological or psychological factors.

Answer: O

Social control theory posits that individuals are deterred from engaging in criminal behavior by social bonds and connections to conventional institutions such as family, school, and the broader community.

Answer: P

Labeling theory argues that the criminal justice system itself plays a role in creating and perpetuating criminal behavior, as individuals who are labeled as criminals may face social marginalization and barriers to reintegration into mainstream society.

Answer: Q

Conflict theory suggests that crime and other social problems arise as a result of power imbalances and tensions between different social groups.

Answer: U

Feminist theory highlights the ways in which gender-based inequalities and patriarchal structures contribute to crime and criminalization, and calls for a more gender-inclusive approach to criminology.

Question 4

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-A theory that argues that critical criminologists need to redirect their attention to the fear and the very real victimization experienced by working-class people.

Accepted Answer

British or left realism is a criminological theory that emphasizes the need to focus on the fear and victimization experienced by working-class people. It argues that crime is a result of relative deprivation, social inequality, and power imbalances.

Question 5

Criminological theory refers to the explanation and causation of criminal behavior,but not to explanations of police behavior or the behavior of other actors in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

Criminological theory encompasses a wide range of perspectives and models that seek to explain not only the causation of criminal behavior but also the behaviors and practices of all actors within the criminal justice system, including police behavior, judicial practices, and corrections.

Question 6

Special or specific deterrence is the use of the punishment of specific individuals to prevent people in general or society at large from engaging in crime.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence aims to prevent the individual who is being punished from committing future crimes, whereas general deterrence aims to prevent the general population from committing crimes by making an example of specific individuals.

Question 7

According to conflict theorists,criminal law and the criminal justice system are used by dominant groups to control subordinate ones.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists argue that criminal law and the criminal justice system are tools used by the ruling class to maintain their power and control over the lower class. They believe that the dominant group makes the laws and enforces them in a way that benefits their own interests and reinforces the social hierarchy.

Question 8

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-Any theory of crime causation that is generally based on a Marxist theory of class struggle.

Accepted Answer

Radical theory is the correct match as it is based on Marxist theory of class struggle, focusing on the ways in which wealth and power influence the creation of laws and the enforcement of laws, leading to different experiences of crime and justice across social classes.

Question 9

Extinction is the presentation of an aversive stimulus to reduce a response.

Accepted Answer

Extinction in behavioral psychology refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, not the presentation of an aversive stimulus.

Question 10

A theory of crime attempts to explain why or how a certain thing or certain things are related to criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

A theory of crime is a framework of explanations that attempt to clarify why or how particular factors are related to criminal behavior.

Question 11

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-The explanation of the behavior of criminals,police,attorneys,prosecutors,judges,correctional personnel,victims,and other actors in the criminal justice system.

Accepted Answer

The explanation of the behavior of criminals, police, attorneys, prosecutors, judges, correctional personnel, victims, and other actors in the criminal justice system is the focus of criminological theory.

Question 12

Administering testosterone to male sex offenders has been found to reduce their sexual drives.

Accepted Answer

Testosterone is typically associated with increased sexual drive, not a reduction. Administering testosterone to male sex offenders is not a standard treatment for reducing sexual drives.

Question 13

According to learning theory,through imitationor modeling,a person can learn new responses,such as criminal behavior,by observing others.

Accepted Answer

Learning theory proposes that individuals can learn new behaviors, including criminal behavior, through imitation or modeling of others' actions.

Question 14

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-The theory that states that when the usual controls over delinquents are largely absent; delinquent behavior is often approved of by parents and neighbors; there are many opportunities for delinquent behavior; and there is little encouragement,training,or opportunity for legitimate employment; crime or delinquency will occur.

Accepted Answer

Social disorganization theory states that crime or delinquency will occur when the usual controls over delinquents are largely absent, delinquent behavior is often approved of by parents and neighbors, there are many opportunities for delinquent behavior, and there is little encouragement, training, or opportunity for legitimate employment.

Question 15

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-A theory that assumes that society is based primarily on conflict between competing interest groups,that criminal law and the criminal justice system are used to control subordinate groups,and that crime is caused by relative powerlessness.

Accepted Answer

This is the description of Conflict theory, which posits that crime is caused by power imbalances in society and the criminal justice system is used to control and oppress certain groups.

Answer: L 
 Anomie or strain theory suggests that crime is caused by the inability of individuals to achieve societal goals through legitimate means.

Answer: M 
 Differential association theory suggests that individuals learn to engage in criminal behavior through their associations with others who engage in criminal behavior.

Answer: K 
 Social disorganization theory suggests that crime is caused by a breakdown in social institutions and the inability of communities to regulate themselves.

Answer: S 
 British or left realism is a criminological perspective that seeks to address the root causes of crime and social inequality, while also recognizing the need for practical measures to reduce crime.

Answer: U 
 Feminist theory seeks to examine the ways in which gender shapes our understanding of crime and criminal justice, and to address issues of gender inequality in these areas.

Question 16

Criminal anthropology is the study of "criminal" human beings.

Accepted Answer

Criminal anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that focuses on studying criminal behavior and the people who engage in it. It involves examining the societal and environmental factors that can lead people to become "criminal," as well as the psychological and biological factors that may contribute to their behavior.

Question 17

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-A theory that human behavior is determined and not a matter of free will,and criminals are fundamentally different from noncriminals.

Accepted Answer

Positivism is the theory that human behavior is determined and not a matter of free will, and criminals are fundamentally different from noncriminals. This theory emphasizes the importance of scientific methods and data in explaining criminal behavior.

Answer: B
 Classical theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of rationality and free will in human behavior. According to this theory, individuals make choices based on their own self-interest, and punishment should be proportionate to the crime.

Answer: C
 Neoclassical theory is a modification of classical theory that takes into account the individual's circumstances and environment in making decisions about criminal behavior. It emphasizes the importance of mitigating circumstances in determining punishment.

Answer: E
 Biological theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the influence of biological factors, such as genetics and the brain, in determining criminal behavior.

Answer: G
 Body-type theory is a criminological theory that suggests that certain physical characteristics, such as body type and facial features, are correlated with criminal behavior.

Answer: H
 Modern biocriminology is a contemporary approach to biological theory that emphasizes the interaction between biological and environmental factors in determining criminal behavior.

Answer: I
 Psychoanalytic theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the influence of childhood experiences and unconscious impulses in determining criminal behavior.

Answer: J
 Humanistic psychological theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of personal growth and self-actualization in preventing criminal behavior.

Answer: K
 Social disorganization theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of neighborhood and community factors, such as poverty and unemployment, in contributing to criminal behavior.

Answer: L
 Anomie or strain theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of social and economic factors, such as inequality and social disorganization, in creating conditions that lead to criminal behavior.

Answer: M
 Differential association theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of social learning and peer influence in determining criminal behavior.

Answer: N
 Learning theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of environmental reinforcements and punishments in shaping criminal behavior.

Answer: O
 Social control theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of socialization and social bonds in preventing criminal behavior.

Answer: P
 Labeling theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of the societal reaction to criminal behavior in shaping an individual's identity and future behavior.

Answer: Q
 Conflict theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of power and inequality in shaping criminal behavior and the criminal justice system.

Answer: R
 Radical theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the role of capitalism and economic inequality in creating conditions that lead to criminal behavior.

Answer: S
 British or left realism is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty and inequality, through practical solutions.

Answer: T
 Peacemaking criminology is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of restorative justice and alternative forms of conflict resolution in addressing criminal behavior.

Answer: U
 Feminist theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of gender and gender inequality in shaping criminal behavior and the criminal justice system.

Answer: V
 Postmodern theory is a criminological theory that emphasizes the importance of understanding crime and criminal behavior within its cultural and historical context.

Question 18

Emile Durkheim rejected the idea that society is more than a simple aggregate of individuals,and believed that the world is simply the product of individual actions.

Accepted Answer

Emile Durkheim believed in the concept of social facts, which are the distinctive features of social life that cannot be reduced to individual actions or characteristics. He argued that society is more than just a collection of individuals, and that it has its own reality and existence beyond the individuals who compose it.

Question 19

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below.
-The study of the biological factors linked to criminality and delinquency,such as disorders of the limbic system and other parts of the brain,brain chemical dysfunctions,minimal brain damage,and endocrine abnormalities.

Accepted Answer

Modern biocriminology focuses on the study of biological factors, such as brain disorders and chemical dysfunctions, linked to criminal behavior.

Question 20

Postmodernist criminologists prefer to replace the prevailing description of the world with new conceptions,words and phrases that convey alternative meanings,as Sutherland did when he introduced the concept of "white-collar crime."

Accepted Answer

Postmodernist criminologists aim to challenge and deconstruct dominant narratives and language, often by introducing new concepts or redefining existing ones. Sutherland's concept of white-collar crime is an example of this approach.

Quiz 3: Explaining Crime

One objection to radical theory is that the radical definition of crime as the violation of human rights is too narrow and specific.

Psychopaths,sociopaths,or antisocial personalities are characterized by no sense of guilt,no subjective conscience,and no sense of right and wrong.

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below. -A theory that argues that critical criminologists need to redirect their attention to the fear and the very real victimization experienced by working-class people.

Criminological theory refers to the explanation and causation of criminal behavior,but not to explanations of police behavior or the behavior of other actors in the criminal justice system.

Special or specific deterrence is the use of the punishment of specific individuals to prevent people in general or society at large from engaging in crime.

According to conflict theorists,criminal law and the criminal justice system are used by dominant groups to control subordinate ones.

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below. -Any theory of crime causation that is generally based on a Marxist theory of class struggle.

Extinction is the presentation of an aversive stimulus to reduce a response.

A theory of crime attempts to explain why or how a certain thing or certain things are related to criminal behavior.

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below. -The explanation of the behavior of criminals,police,attorneys,prosecutors,judges,correctional personnel,victims,and other actors in the criminal justice system.

Administering testosterone to male sex offenders has been found to reduce their sexual drives.

According to learning theory,through imitationor modeling,a person can learn new responses,such as criminal behavior,by observing others.

Criminal anthropology is the study of "criminal" human beings.

Match the following criminological theory or field of study with the correct definition listed below. -A theory that human behavior is determined and not a matter of free will,and criminals are fundamentally different from noncriminals.

Emile Durkheim rejected the idea that society is more than a simple aggregate of individuals,and believed that the world is simply the product of individual actions.

Postmodernist criminologists prefer to replace the prevailing description of the world with new conceptions,words and phrases that convey alternative meanings,as Sutherland did when he introduced the concept of "white-collar crime."