Exam 1 Criminology Quizzes

From a psychological perspective, chronic cannabis abuse is linked to aggressive and violent behavior.

false

Twin and MZA studies are examples of behavioral genetic designs.

true

The limbic system and the prefrontal cortex are completely developed by early adolescents.

false

The limbic system is associated with fight-or-flight instinctive responses.

true

______ studies of crime focus on the genetic makeup of individuals, with a specific focus on abnormalities in their chromosomal makeup.

cytogenetic

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) is an enzyme that breaks down which brain neurotransmitters

serotonin

Studies have shown that a high percentage of women committed crimes during their premenstrual cycle, a time when they had low levels of ______ compared with progesterone.

estrogen

The prefrontal cortex begins development in______

the womb

____ levels of serotonin are linked to depression, suicide, anxiety and impulsive acts of aggression.

low

Factors that can explain violent offending are not probabilistic but deterministic.

false

______ explanations seek to understand violent behavior in terms of personality, character, and mental disorder.

psychological

______ is responsible for the executive control of the brain.

the prefrontal cortex

Studies of behavioral genetics regarding criminality or antisocial behaviors consistently show that heritability/genetic factors explain about ______ of the variance in antisocial behavior.

50%

_____ occurs when persons seek out environments compatible with their genotypes.

active gene x environment correlation

After the twin studies of the mid-1900s were heavily criticized, researchers moved on to which other methodological approach to examine the nature versus nurture debate?

adoption studies

What do proponents of biosocial explanations of criminal behavior blame for deviant behavior?

genetics and environment

A growing body of research suggests that the warrior gene, sometimes referred to as a genetic polymorphism, correlates with which of the following?

all of these

3 multiple choice options

Given that most violence is perpetrated by males, some have theorized that male aggression is linked with levels of ______. However, research findings in this area are inconclusive.

testosterone

The family studies showed that criminality in the mother (or head female caretaker) had a much stronger influence on future criminality of the children than did the father's criminality.

true

Lombroso argued that violent criminals were evolutionary throwbacks or ______, and the problem of crime rested upon the shoulders of individuals who were born to be violent and criminal.

atavisms

______ is the science of determining human disposition based on distinctions (bumps) in the skull.

phrenology

Psychopathy is most often associated with serial killers.

true

Which toxin is most associated with future criminal behavior after exposure?

lead

______ twins are also called fraternal twins; they share the same amount of DNA as any other type of siblings.

dizygotic

The difference between a psychopath and a person with anti-social personality disorder is:

none of the above

3 multiple choice options

The interaction of maternal ______ and a father's absence in the household, especially early in life, is associated with criminal behavior.

cigarette smoking

Psychological theories of crime focus on ______.

the influence of an individual's experiences, emotional adjustment, or personality on criminality

Phrenology argued that criminals could be identified by the shape of skull.

true

______ argues that when a person with a genetic risk is placed in a risk environment, they are more likely to develop a risk phenotype; while if such a person was placed in a non-risk environment that phenotype is less likely to gain expression.

gene x environment interaction

Research has found that aggressive and violent animals become meek and mild when castrated, but then resume their violent behavior when given shots of testosterone.

true

Damage to the right side of the temporal lobe, as opposed to the left side of the temporal lobe, is highly associated with criminal offending.

true

Pre-and-perinatal exposure to toxins such as alcohol, nicotine, and lead have no impact on aggressive and violent behavior.

false

A psychopath is "made" while a sociopath is "born."

false

_____ occurs when biological parents share their genes and environment with their child. The child’s genes and environment will be strongly correlated because they derive from the same source—the parents.

passive gene x environment correlation

Most illicit drug use brings forth pleasurable sensations through enhancing the levels of ______ in an individual's system.

dopamine

This research design reveals the extent to which differences in phenotypes (i.e., violent behavior) can be explained by heritability, shared environment, and non-shared environment.

behavioral genetics

Based on its psychological effects, methamphetamines are the drug most commonly linked to aggressive and violent behavior.

false

_% of women and ___% of men in the U.S. are psychopaths

1, 3

Those who have ______ are often characterized as being very narcissistic, reckless, and emotionally shallow.

antisocial personality disorder

Which movement tried to 'improve' the human race through selective breeding practices, forced sterilization programs, and similar kinds of policies?

eugenics

Let's say Tim robs a bank and leads the police on a high-speed car chase. During the chase, Tim runs a red light and slams into another car, killing the innocent driver. What will Tim most likely be charged with in Texas?

murder

______ are accidental or unintentional killings that did not occur because of negligence or recklessness.

excusable homicides

In Texas, a person commits ______ if he/she “recklessly causes the death of an individual.” A person acts “recklessly” when he/she is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk” that their conduct will kill another person.

Manslaughter

______ refers to the knowledge and intention to kill while deliberation implies that the killing was planned and thought about rather than committed on impulse.

Premeditation

______ are killings judged to be legally acceptable because they occurred in defense of life or property.

justifiable homicides

Hedonistic killers can be broken down into what three subcategories

lust, thrill, comfort

______ killers suffer from some form of psychosis: They frequently perceive voices or images that command them to kill.

visionary

A ______ murderer is one who kills on at least three occasions, with what can be called an emotional cooling-off period between the incidents.

serial

A(n) ______ assault is defined as "an attack or attempted attack with a weapon, regardless of whether or not an injury occurred and attack without a weapon when serious injury results."

aggravated

Murdering someone for payment or the promise of payment or hiring another person to commit a murder for payment constitutes what criminal charge in Texas.

capital murder

In Texas, the punishment for ______ ranges from life in prison without the possibility of parole to death by lethal injection.

capital murder

There are three broad types of multicide: mass murder, spree murder, and ______.

serial murder

In Texas, there are nine (9) general circumstances under which a person can commit capital murder.

true

According to the Texas Penal code, "criminal homicide" is divided into first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide.

false

What explanation of crime suggests that violent criminal offending is most frequent among young adults between the ages of 24 and 29?

none of these

______ is the most extreme form of punishment that states and the federal government can hand down as a sanction for murder.

capital punishment

A visionary serial killer is someone who kills in order to "rid" society of a specific group of people. For example, they might be racist against a certain ethnicity or religion. Or they might target sex workers or homosexuals.

false

Richard Chase is a good example of a ____.

visionary serial killer

Mission killers are rare because they suffer from some form of psychosis that involves the perception of voices or images that command them to kill.

false

The diminished capacity defense allows defendants to attempt to show that they could not have had, and therefore did not have, the mental state required for conviction of a crime.

true

If a woman becomes a serial killer, she is most likely to be a ______.

comfort killer

What type of killers are distinguished by their effort to obtain sexual pleasure from killing?

hedonistic lust

Although most do not suffer from psychosis, several serial killers have been diagnosed with a personality disorder, widely known as psychopathy or clinically known as "antisocial personality disorder."

true

Which of the following is not part of the homicidal triad?

abuse

3 multiple choice options

A ______ assault is an "attack without a weapon resulting either in no injury, minor injury (for example, bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, or swelling), or an undetermined injury requiring less than 2 days of hospitalization."

simple

______ killers murder to obtain a sense of domination and total control over their victims.

power/control

The castle doctrine provides protections and immunities permitting a person, in certain circumstances, to use force (up to and including deadly force) to defend themselves against an intruder only in their home and vehicle.

false

According to the castle doctrine, a person has "no duty to retreat" against an attacker once they are in their occupied:

all of the above

3 multiple choice options

Let's say John fires a gun into an abandoned building and kills a homeless person sleeping inside. What will John most likely be charged with in Texas?

murder

Let's say Joe hits Bob on the side of the head with a baseball bat because he got angry at him during an argument. Let's say that Joe just wanted to hurt Bob really bad, not kill him, but the blow to the head fractures Bob's skull and he dies. What will Joe most likely be charged with in Texas?

murder

There are three types of "criminal homicide" charges in Texas.

false

Which of the following is a necessary component in Texas's "stand your ground" legislation?

all of the above

3 multiple choice options

Jeffrey Dahmer is best described as a Visionary Killer.

false

The use of deadly force is covered under chapter ___ of the Texas penal code.

9

______ are criminal homicides in which the degree of responsibility is considered much less than murder, not only because premeditation and deliberation are absent but also because the offender did not act with malice.

manslaughters

According to Texas law, a person commits "murder" if he or she intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.

true

What type of murders are those conducted for explicit future goals, such as acquiring money or property?

instrumental

A person picking up a gun without checking to see if it was loaded, pointing it at a friend as a joke, and pulling the trigger killing the friend would likely be charged with what crime under Texas law.

manslaughter

According to Texas law, does the following constitute capital murder: Murdering someone under 10 years old.

true

______ generally include two categories—murder and manslaughter—with various types subsumed under each.

criminal homicides

A(n) ______ assault is defined as "an attack or attempted attack with a weapon, regardless of whether or not an injury occurred and attack without a weapon when serious injury results."

aggravated

According to the castle doctrine, a person has "no duty to retreat" against an attacker once they are in their occupied:

all of the above

3 multiple choice options

A ______ assault is an "attack without a weapon resulting either in no injury, minor injury (for example, bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, or swelling), or an undetermined injury requiring less than 2 days of hospitalization."

simple

______ refers to the knowledge and intention to kill while deliberation implies that the killing was planned and thought about rather than committed on impulse.

premeditation

______ are accidental or unintentional killings that did not occur because of negligence or recklessness.

excusable homicides

Let's say Tim robs a bank and leads the police on a high-speed car chase. During the chase, Tim runs a red light and slams into another car, killing the innocent driver. What will Tim most likely be charged with in Texas?

murder

Murdering someone for payment or the promise of payment or hiring another person to commit a murder for payment constitutes what criminal charge in Texas.

capital murder

______ are criminal homicides in which the degree of responsibility is considered much less than murder, not only because premeditation and deliberation are absent but also because the offender did not act with malice.

manslaughters

What type of murders are those conducted for explicit future goals, such as acquiring money or property?

instrumental

In Texas, a person commits ______ if he/she “recklessly causes the death of an individual.” A person acts “recklessly” when he/she is aware of but consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk” that their conduct will kill another person.

manslaughter

In Texas, the punishment for ______ ranges from life in prison without the possibility of parole to death by lethal injection.

capital murder

According to Texas law, a person commits "murder" if he or she intends to cause serious bodily injury and commits an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes the death of an individual.

true

The use of deadly force is covered under chapter ___ of the Texas penal code.

9

According to Texas law, does the following constitute capital murder: Murdering someone under 10 years old.

true

The castle doctrine provides protections and immunities permitting a person, in certain circumstances, to use force (up to and including deadly force) to defend themselves against an intruder only in their home and vehicle.

false

In Texas, there are nine (9) general circumstances under which a person can commit capital murder.

true

A person picking up a gun without checking to see if it was loaded, pointing it at a friend as a joke, and pulling the trigger killing the friend would likely be charged with what crime under Texas law.

manslaughter

Let's say John fires a gun into an abandoned building and kills a homeless person sleeping inside. What will John most likely be charged with in Texas?

murder

Which of the following is not a necessary component in Texas's "stand your ground" legislation?

you cannot be a trespasser, you cannot have provoked the action, and you cannot be committing a crime

According to the Texas Penal code, "criminal homicide" is divided into first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide.

false