Chapter 2: Test Bank
TRUE/FALSE
1. Cesare Beccaria is referred to as the father of criminology.
ANS: F
REF: 42
OBJ: 3
2. Choice theorists believe the key to controlling crime is deterrence.
ANS: T
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
3. Jeremy Bentham developed the theory of utilitarianism.
ANS: T
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
4. A theory is an explanation of a happening or circumstance based on observation,
experimentation, and reasoning.
ANS: T
REF: 39
OBJ: 1
5. Trait theories suggest that certain biological or psychological traits can trigger criminal
behavior in certain circumstances.
ANS: T
REF: 44
OBJ: 3
6. A correlation demonstrates a cause of behavior.
ANS: F
REF: 39
OBJ: 1
7. According to psychoanalysts, an over-powerful ego may be related to crime.
ANS: T
REF: 46
OBJ: 3
8. The social reality of crime is that the disenfranchised have power to make the rules.
ANS: F
REF: 54
OBJ: 5
9. Utilitarianism involves the calculation of pain and pleasure.
ANS: T
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
10. Social disorganization theory holds that crime is largely related to the quality of
neighborhoods.
ANS: T
REF: 48
OBJ: 4
37
11.Strain results from the lack of available means to achieve life goals.
ANS: T
REF: 50
OBJ: 4
12. Labels applied by the justice system can only improve life.
ANS: F
REF: 52
OBJ: 5
13. Self-control is an important variable in life course criminology.
ANS: T
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
14. Studies indicate that individuals with low self -control are at a greater risk of
victimization.
ANS: T
REF: 60
OBJ: 7
15. The concept of the “seduction of crime” is an elaboration on rational choice theory.
ANS: T
REF: 42
OBJ: 2
16. Social conflict theory focuses on power distributions.
ANS: T
REF: 55
OBJ: 5
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Strain theory has its roots in the concept of
a. opportunity.
b. employment.
c. anomie.
d. peers.
ANS: C
REF: 50
OBJ: 4
2. The idea that certain people are more likely to be victims of crime than others is called
a. repeat victimization.
b. recidivism.
c. chronic offending.
d. system revictimization.
ANS: A
REF: 59
OBJ: 9
38
3. For the positivist, behavior is
a. not controlled by biological forces.
b. not controlled by psychological forces.
c. not controlled by social forces.
d. beyond control of the individual.
ANS: D
REF: 42
OBJ: 3
4. Classical theorists believe that a crime was an expression of a person’s
a. conscience.
b. ethics.
c. genetics.
d. rational decision making process.
ANS: D
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
5. An explanation of a happening or circumstance based on observation,
experimentation, and reasoning is a
a. hypothesis.
b. theory.
c. utilitarian view.
d. positivist view.
ANS: B
REF: 39
OBJ: 2
6. The Chicago School showed a correlation between crime and
a. conditions of poverty.
b. inadequate housing.
c. general neighborhood conditions.
d. low levels of self-control.
ANS: A
REF: 48-49
OBJ: 4
7. Which of the following is not a main branch of social process theory?
a. Labeling theory
b. Deviance theory
c. Control theory
d. Learning theory
ANS: B
REF: 51
OBJ: 5
8. Which model holds that substance abusers are forced into petty crime to feed their
addictions?
a. Criminal
b. Medical
c. Addiction
d. Treatment
ANS: B
REF: 63
OBJ: 8
39
9. The following are more often victimized:
a. males
b. Hispanics
c. senior citizens
d. wealthy citizens
ANS: A
REF: 60
OBJ: 7
10. Which of the following is a social process theory?
a. Social disorganization theory
b. Strain theory
c. Labeling theory
d. Life course theory
ANS: C
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
11. Which of the following is consistent with control theory?
a. Offenders learn deviant values from parents and peers
b. Individuals are restrained from offending by their relationships between parents
and peers.
c. Individuals must be taught to commit illegal activities
d. Individuals commit crimes after being labeled by society.
ANS: B
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
12. In Bentham’s classical criminology, punishment aims to
a. incapacitate offenders.
b. rehabilitate offenders.
c. return the victim to the state they were in before the crime.
d. give an incentive not to harm people.
ANS: D
REF: 42
OBJ: 2
13. Social conflict theory focuses on
a. psychology.
b. biology.
c. sociology.
d. power.
ANS: D
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
14. Routine activities theory includes all of the following elements except
a. a suitable target.
b. repeat victimization.
c. a likely offender.
d. absence of a capable guardian.
ANS: B
REF: 59
OBJ: 7
40
15. The theory that people adapt to the values of the subculture to which they belong is
a. social learning theory.
b. cultural deviance theory.
c. anomie.
d. social control theory.
ANS: B
REF: 50
OBJ: 4
16. Which one the answers is not true regarding Beccaria’s opinion?
a. All decisions are the result of rational choice
b. Fear of punishment can deter the choice to commit crime
c. The more swift and certain a punishment is, the more effective it will be
d. Criminal procedures should not be consistent with human behavior
ANS: D
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
17. Theories are based on all of the following except
a. common sense.
b. observation.
c. experimentation.
d. reasoning.
ANS: A
REF: 39
OBJ: 1
18. Researchers who study the causes of crime are called
a. positivists.
b. sociologists.
c. ideologists.
d. criminologists.
ANS: D
REF: 39
OBJ: 1
19. Social conflict theory includes
a. a foundation of rational choice.
b. issues of power and wealth.
c. the idea that the criminal justice system is out of control.
d. a focus of community values.
ANS: B
REF: 54
OBJ: 5
20. The theory that wrongdoers choose to commit crimes is
a. at the core of life course criminology.
b. a fallacy.
c. is a fundamental concept of trait theory.
d. a cornerstone of the American criminal justice system.
ANS: D
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
41
21. The function of the superego is
a. to act as a conscience.
b. control sexual urges.
c. control behavior that leads to the fulfillment of the id.
d. search for pleasure.
ANS: A
REF: 47
OBJ: 3
22. The man credited with introducing the concept of anomie is
a. Edward Sutherland.
b. Cesare Lombroso.
c. Travis Hirschi.
d. Emile Durkheim.
ANS: D
REF: 50
OBJ: 4
23. Biochemical explanations of misbehavior include all of the following except
a. testosterone.
b. postpartum psychosis.
c. attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
d. male hormones.
ANS: C
REF: 45
OBJ: 3
24. To understand the basics addiction and physical dependence, one must understand the
role of
a. testosterone in the brain.
b. serotonin in the brain.
c. androgen in the brain.
d. dopamine in the brain.
ANS: D
REF: 62
OBJ: 8
25. Disorganized zones and juvenile delinquency were studied by
a. Merton and Bentham.
b. Roy and Faust.
c. Bennett and Durkheim.
d. Shaw and McKay.
ANS: D
REF: 49
OBJ: 4
26. Gottfredson and Hirschi believe that low self-control can be primarily attributed to
a. school failure.
b. weak social bonds.
c. mental deficiencies.
d. hormones.
ANS: B
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
42
27. Rational choice theory is an updated version of
a. classical theory.
b. anomie theory.
c. ego theory.
d. control theory.
ANS: A
REF: 41
OBJ: 1
28. Labeling an individual
a. is evil.
b. affects one’s self concept.
c. can only be applied by the community.
d. cannot be reversed.
ANS: B
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
29. Addiction and dependence are
a. criminal.
b. underreported.
c. not related.
d. interrelated.
ANS: D
REF: 63
OBJ: 8
COMPLETION
1. Biochemical conditions are one variable in
ANS: trait
theory.
REF: 44
OBJ: 3
2. From the early days of this country, the general presumption of criminal law has been
that behavior is a consequence of
ANS: free will
.
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
3. The
is the part of the personality which is directly related to the conscience
and determines which actions are right or wrong.
ANS: superego
REF: 46
OBJ: 3
4. Criminal activity in males has been linked to the hormone
ANS: testosterone
REF: 44
.
OBJ: 3
5. Physical violence that occurs within an intimate relationship is
ANS: domestic violence
REF: 38
43
OBJ: 1
.
6. The
model of addiction believes that addicts are mentally or physically ill.
ANS: medical
REF: 63
OBJ: 8
7. When two variables vary together, they are said to have a
ANS: correlation
REF: 39
.
OBJ: 2
8. The view that criminal behavior is the predictable result of one’s interaction with his
or her environment is social
ANS: process
theory.
REF: 51
OBJ: 5
9. Learning theory has recently expanded to include the growing influence of the
.
ANS: media
REF: 51
10. Labeling can lead to a
ANS: self-fulfilling
OBJ: 5
prophecy. [ LO5,49]
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
11. The study of behavior patterns of childhood predicting adult criminality is part of
criminology.
ANS: life course
REF: 57
OBJ: 6
12. ____________ can lead to a weakening of social controls and an increase in deviant
behavior.
ANS: Anomie
REF: 50
13. According to Hirschi social bonds promote
ANS: conformity
OBJ: 4
to social norms.
REF: 53
OBJ: 5
14. The
model of addiction holds that addicts endanger society and should be
punished in the same manner as other drug offenders.
ANS: criminal
REF: 63
OBJ: 3
15. Victimology studies the relationships between victims and offenders and victims and
the
.
ANS: criminal justice system
REF: 58
44
OBJ: 7
16. Lack of access to avenues of success such as education is a feature of
theory.
ANS: strain
REF: 50
OBJ: 4
ESSAY
1. Explain why classical criminology is based on choice theory.
REF: 41
OBJ: 2
2. Contrast positivism with classical criminology.
REF: 38-39
OBJ: 3
3. List and briefly describe the three theories of social structure.
REF: 48-50
OBJ: 4
4. List and briefly describe the three branches of social process theory.
REF: 51-53
OBJ: 5
5. Why do life course theorists believe the key to criminal offending lies in childhood?
REF: 57-58
OBJ: 6
6. Discuss the evolution of victimology from its beginnings in the 1940s until today.
REF: 58-60
OBJ: 7
7. Contrast the medical model of addiction with the criminal model of addiction.
REF: 63
OBJ: 8
8. Explain the theory of the chronic offender and its importance for the criminal justice
system.
REF: 64-65
OBJ: 9
45
46