CRIM 249 Final Practice exam

Good theories are falsifiable, which means they are __________.

testable

What was the emphasis of legal scholars during the period also known as the Great Age of Reason?

Reform of a previously unfair system and rights of individuals.

True or False: A society with a large difference between rich and poor is, by definition, malintegrated.

False

How does age-graded social control theory explain the persistence of crime in some individuals?

Early delinquent acts can have a cumulative effect on someone, which weakens future social bonds that might prevent crime.

Robert Park and Ernest Burgess introduced which concept?

urban ecology

Control theories operate on which assumption?

Crime is a means to achieve goals such as financial gain, revenge, or physical pleasure.

True or False: Researchers can only test a single theory per study.

False

Research uses __________ investigation to answer social questions.

systematic

Which best distinguishes a true criminological research study?

True criminological research requires systematic analysis of data to identify patterns and reach new conclusions.

Which statement is most accurate?

Social disorganization theory is a macro-level theory; control theories are micro-level theories.

'Before we can enforce laws, they must be written.'

codification

Which mode of adaptation rejects goals but accepts means?

ritualism

Concentric zones—commuter zone is which zone?

V

Durkheim’s “anomie” originally meant:

A sense of normlessness.

Which is a backward-looking goal of punishment?

retribution

Criminology tends to emphasize:

The individual context of crime and victims.

Which approach uses qualitative methods?

idiographic

Criminology is a __________ discipline.

probabilistic

Why is hidden deviance a problem in hiring?

Background checks only identify individuals who have been officially labeled by the criminal justice system.

According to Beccaria, an important feature of laws is:

That the laws are publicly stated and known in advance of commission of crime.

Self-control is established:

At a young age, probably around age 8 or so.

Which adaptation replaces both goals and means?

rebellion

Learning theories say crime is caused by:

A person’s environmental and social experiences.

Lombroso’s view on gender:

He viewed women as being prone to crime due to being emotional, childish, and/or jealous.

1920s–1970s era:

sociological

Akers’ theory on intimate groups:

They provide the most influential source of social reinforcement.

Deviance is a social construct means:

It is determined by the norms of a specific society or the laws enacted by government.

Mala in se vs mala prohibita:

Mala in se acts are considered inherently wrong, while mala prohibita acts are wrong only because they are illegal.

'Association between variables' question:

relational

Parsimonius theory:

It is only as complex as it needs to be to explain the particular phenomenon.

Did correlation prove causation?

No, they do not know which comes first.

'Should states ban death penalty?'

No, because that is a question based on morality, ethics, or personal values.

Pluralistic perspective:

Laws result from debate and political processes within a system of checks and balances.

Learning theories are micro because:

They focus on personal experiences and interactions between individuals.

NOT a feature of disorganized neighborhoods:

ethnic homogeneity

Validity criticized:

external

UCR hierarchy rule:

Only the murder will be recorded.

Researcher knows identity but keeps it private:

confidential

Drug use continues because:

The social reinforcement from their peer group outweighs the legal punishment.

Secondary deviance:

Secondary deviance results from the individual being publicly labeled and treated as an outsider.

Rational choice vs deterrence:

Rational choice theory incorporates an offender’s individual perceptions and situational characteristics.

Cultural differences in deviance:

relativity

Vignette:

A brief, hypothetical scenario to which participants are asked to respond.

Classical & neoclassical similarity:

Both emphasize the free will of the offender.

Naturalistic approach:

Study acts objectively as naturally occurring events without applying labels such as 'bad.'

Classical vs neoclassical methodology:

Neoclassical criminology utilizes scientific methods to test principles, whereas the classical era relied on philosophy.

Adding to a theory:

extending

Control variable:

Any factor that a researcher keeps the same to ensure it does not influence the outcome of the study.

NCVS strength:

The NCVS estimates crime that goes unreported to the police.

Deterrence theory prevention:

Increase the magnitude of punishment for criminal acts.

Profiling as idiographic:

It focuses on the unique characteristics of a specific offender or offense.

Adjusting theory:

Sure, theories might be adjusted based on new evidence that prompts a change.

Robbery mala prohibita?

False

Robbery motivation:

He values the traditional means of the United States.

Shared willingness to intervene:

collective efficacy

Continuation of crime:

persistence

Nurse example:

conformity

Longitudinal advantage:

It would let the researcher know that the independent variable happened before the dependent variable.

Single-parent study flaw:

This study does not demonstrate a relationship between single-parent homes and robbery because there is no control group.

General theory of crime:

Being impulsive or just a general lack of self-control.

'Theory' misuse:

No, the police officer is using the word theory to mean 'hunch,' which is not how it is used in criminology.

Social bond:

belief

Why crime stops:

Events and changes in his life increase the costs of crime.

Variable example:

jury verdict

Longitudinal means:

A researcher is interested in prison life over several years.

Social disorganization:

He is likely in poverty.

Labeling theory focus:

The effects of any punishment on his future behavior.

Fingerprint expert:

criminalist

Rational choice risk:

Successful past criminal offenses can lower the perceived risk of being caught in the future.

Neighborhood diversity:

There are people from many different racial and ethnic groups living near him.

Statutory law category:

criminal code

Beccaria punishment:

It should occur quickly, be strong enough to outweigh the benefits of the crime, and applied consistently across other similar offenders.

Hobbes on torture:

No, Hobbes opposed torture as an overextension of the power of the state.

Job/family deterrence:

He would have more to lose if he was caught.

Wrongful conviction:

false positive

UCR classification:

incident

Independent variable:

the cause

Type of question:

descriptive

Strain theory motivation:

He likely is motivated by pursuit of wealth, even if it is unlikely to be attainable.

Lombroso type:

an atavistic criminal

Psychology school:

behavioral

Public punishment:

It would support general deterrence.

Learned technique:

He learned how to load and use a gun.

Study group:

sample

Anecdote issue:

Personal observations and anecdotes do not necessarily reflect broader probabilistic trends.

Internal validity:

The study will demonstrate a causal relationship between the variables.

Disorganization feature:

People are moving in and out of it constantly with little stability.

Increased behavior:

reinforcement

Definition type:

conceptual

1960s–70s impact:

There was a general breakdown in law and order, which led to a push for 'tough on crime' approaches.

Hidden deviance?

False

Classical view:

He had free will and made a free choice to commit a robbery.

Becker deviance:

Society would have determined that the act violated norms and labeled the robbery as deviant.

Causality requirement:

covariability

PA common law crimes:

Virtually impossible, as Pennsylvania abolished common law crimes in favor of criminal codes.

Stop offending?

Unlikely, unless something about him really changes during his punishment.

Zone V:

in the suburbs

Ecological validity:

They study people who are in real prisons.

Peer influence:

differential reinforcement

Sanction goal:

general deterrence