Question 1

Which theory contends that bad neighborhoods where people lack connections are problematic because they cause crime?

Accepted Answer

A)  strain theory 
B)  social disorganization theory 
C)  classical theory 
D)  critical theory 
A)  strain theory 
B)  social disorganization theory 
C)  classical theory 
D)  critical theory

Question 2

According to critical theorists, why are the wealthy less likely to be searched, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than the poor?

Accepted Answer

A)  The wealthy are more trustworthy when compared to the poor. 
B)  Wealthy individuals are less likely to feel financial strain, so they are less likely to commit crimes. 
C)  The criminal justice system criminalizes the poor in order to allow the wealthy to maintain their dominant position in society. 
D)  The poor commit more crimes because they are more likely to lack education, leaving them with few legitimate employment options. 
A)  The wealthy are more trustworthy when compared to the poor. 
B)  Wealthy individuals are less likely to feel financial strain, so they are less likely to commit crimes. 
C)  The criminal justice system criminalizes the poor in order to allow the wealthy to maintain their dominant position in society. 
D)  The poor commit more crimes because they are more likely to lack education, leaving them with few legitimate employment options.

Question 3

Which scenario describes a taboo?

Accepted Answer

A)  Brad has a crush on a girl in his neighborhood; sometimes, after dark, he sneaks up to her window and spies on her. 
B)  Michelle never uses her turn signal when changing lanes. 
C)  After being stranded for months in snow without food or water, George agrees to eat the flesh of one of the dead settlers. 
D)  Jason cheated on his final exam. 
A)  Brad has a crush on a girl in his neighborhood; sometimes, after dark, he sneaks up to her window and spies on her. 
B)  Michelle never uses her turn signal when changing lanes. 
C)  After being stranded for months in snow without food or water, George agrees to eat the flesh of one of the dead settlers. 
D)  Jason cheated on his final exam.

Question 4

Briefly define classical theory, social disorganization theory, and strain theory. Identify what social problem each theory suggests is the cause of crime.

Accepted Answer

Students should define all theories. Cla

Question 5

The most powerful groups in society determine what is-and is not-considered criminal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A study by the sentencing project compared news reports and official arrest records. They found that, when compared to the real number of incidents, black males are overrepresented as perpetrators, but underrepresented as victims in television news stories. Which statement describes a likely outcome resulting from the way that black males are represented on the news?

Accepted Answer

A)  This may cause more white men to commit crimes. 
B)  This can contribute to implicit bias in members of the community, as well as among members of the police force. 
C)  The way this group is represented might cause news departments to compete with rival stations in covering crimes. 
D)  This can contribute to the dark figure of crime. 
A)  This may cause more white men to commit crimes. 
B)  This can contribute to implicit bias in members of the community, as well as among members of the police force. 
C)  The way this group is represented might cause news departments to compete with rival stations in covering crimes. 
D)  This can contribute to the dark figure of crime.

Question 7

Which theoretical perspective examines the ways in which social structures create barriers for less-powerful individuals in a society?

Accepted Answer

A)  critical theory 
B)  intersectionality 
C)  social disorganization theory 
D)  strain theory 
A)  critical theory 
B)  intersectionality 
C)  social disorganization theory 
D)  strain theory

Question 8

Which criminological theory suggests that crime is a rational decision made by rational individuals seeking to maximize pleasure and minimize pain?

Accepted Answer

A)  social disorganization theory 
B)  strain theory 
C)  critical theory 
D)  classical theory 
A)  social disorganization theory 
B)  strain theory 
C)  critical theory 
D)  classical theory

Question 9

In 1939, Edwin Sutherland became the first to define a long-overlooked type of crime as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation." What crime was he defining?

Accepted Answer

A)  street crime 
B)  high-class crime 
C)  bourgeoisie crime 
D)  white-collar crime 
A)  street crime 
B)  high-class crime 
C)  bourgeoisie crime 
D)  white-collar crime

Question 10

Eric failed at everything he ever tried. He failed at school, got in trouble, and joined the military. He began to feel trapped, working hard but getting nowhere. After a messy divorce and a dishonorable discharge from the military, he finally gave up and self-medicated until he developed an opioid addiction. Which typology describes Eric's mode of adaptation to anomic imbalance?

Accepted Answer

A)  retreatist 
B)  ritualist 
C)  innovator 
D)  conformist 
A)  retreatist 
B)  ritualist 
C)  innovator 
D)  conformist

Question 11

Strain theorists believe that crime occurs because criminals make rational decisions to engage in deviant behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which theoretical perspective is consistent with the view that powerful corporations escape justice and maintain their power because their malfeasance is ignored by society, while at the same time street crimes are emphasized?

Accepted Answer

A)  criminological theory 
B)  critical theory 
C)  functionalism 
D)  interactionism 
A)  criminological theory 
B)  critical theory 
C)  functionalism 
D)  interactionism

Question 13

Which of the statements is true when comparing and contrasting the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?

Accepted Answer

A)  The UCR surveys households, while the NCVS collects self-reported crime statistics from police departments. 
B)  The UCR does not track public order offenses (e.g., public drunkenness), but the NCVS does. 
C)  The NCVS captures crimes that were not reported to the police, so it is better to examine the dark figure of crime. 
D)  The UCR is the most accurate because it comes from official police reports instead of self-reported surveys. 
A)  The UCR surveys households, while the NCVS collects self-reported crime statistics from police departments. 
B)  The UCR does not track public order offenses (e.g., public drunkenness), but the NCVS does. 
C)  The NCVS captures crimes that were not reported to the police, so it is better to examine the dark figure of crime. 
D)  The UCR is the most accurate because it comes from official police reports instead of self-reported surveys.

Question 14

Taboos are the most serious of all rules, so the breaking of a taboo is also considered illegal behavior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What must happen for a deviant act to be considered criminal?

Accepted Answer

Deviant acts are simply behaviors that v

Question 16

Deviance becomes criminal when societies create formal sanctions via laws.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Preston has always wanted a fancy sports car, but has never been able to afford to buy one. One day, he walks by his dream car, unlocked with the keys inside. Preston considers stealing the car, but ultimately decides that the risk of ending up in jail is not worth it. What term describes Preston's thought process as he considered stealing the car?

Accepted Answer

A)  anomic imbalance 
B)  hedonistic calculus 
C)  risk/reward decision-making 
D)  desire principle 
A)  anomic imbalance 
B)  hedonistic calculus 
C)  risk/reward decision-making 
D)  desire principle

Question 18

Classical theorists believe that criminals decide to engage in crime after engaging in hedonistic calculus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Policies that offered greater financial support for education and a pathway to gainful employment in order to cause a reduction in crime would be consistent with which theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  strain theory 
B)  social disorganization theory 
C)  classical theory 
D)  critical theory 
A)  strain theory 
B)  social disorganization theory 
C)  classical theory 
D)  critical theory

Question 20

According to Merton, anomic imbalance exists in the United States because most people expect to achieve the American Dream of financial success, but it is very difficult for most people to achieve that dream using the institutionalized means.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which theory contends that bad neighborhoods where people lack connections are problematic because they cause crime?

According to critical theorists, why are the wealthy less likely to be searched, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than the poor?

Which scenario describes a taboo?

Briefly define classical theory, social disorganization theory, and strain theory. Identify what social problem each theory suggests is the cause of crime.

The most powerful groups in society determine what is-and is not-considered criminal.

Which theoretical perspective examines the ways in which social structures create barriers for less-powerful individuals in a society?

Which criminological theory suggests that crime is a rational decision made by rational individuals seeking to maximize pleasure and minimize pain?

In 1939, Edwin Sutherland became the first to define a long-overlooked type of crime as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation." What crime was he defining?

Strain theorists believe that crime occurs because criminals make rational decisions to engage in deviant behavior.

Which theoretical perspective is consistent with the view that powerful corporations escape justice and maintain their power because their malfeasance is ignored by society, while at the same time street crimes are emphasized?

Which of the statements is true when comparing and contrasting the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?

Taboos are the most serious of all rules, so the breaking of a taboo is also considered illegal behavior.

What must happen for a deviant act to be considered criminal?

Deviance becomes criminal when societies create formal sanctions via laws.

Classical theorists believe that criminals decide to engage in crime after engaging in hedonistic calculus.

Policies that offered greater financial support for education and a pathway to gainful employment in order to cause a reduction in crime would be consistent with which theory?

According to Merton, anomic imbalance exists in the United States because most people expect to achieve the American Dream of financial success, but it is very difficult for most people to achieve that dream using the institutionalized means.

Understanding and Solving Social Problems

Analyzing Economic Inequalities

Recognizing Racism and Racial Inequalities

Examining Gender Inequalities

Focusing on Sex and Sexualities

Preparing for Aging Societies

Making Sense of Migration and Immigration

Researching Environmental Problems

Understanding War and Terrorism

Identifying Problems in the Criminal Justice System

Discovering Problems in the Family

Pursuing Equity in Education

Prioritizing Health and Health Care Inequalities

Realizing the Powerand Vulnerabilityof Institutions

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Exam 9: Contesting Crime

Which theory contends that bad neighborhoods where people lack connections are problematic because they cause crime?

According to critical theorists, why are the wealthy less likely to be searched, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated than the poor?

Which scenario describes a taboo?

Briefly define classical theory, social disorganization theory, and strain theory. Identify what social problem each theory suggests is the cause of crime.

The most powerful groups in society determine what is-and is not-considered criminal.

Which theoretical perspective examines the ways in which social structures create barriers for less-powerful individuals in a society?

Which criminological theory suggests that crime is a rational decision made by rational individuals seeking to maximize pleasure and minimize pain?

In 1939, Edwin Sutherland became the first to define a long-overlooked type of crime as "a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of their occupation." What crime was he defining?

Strain theorists believe that crime occurs because criminals make rational decisions to engage in deviant behavior.

Which theoretical perspective is consistent with the view that powerful corporations escape justice and maintain their power because their malfeasance is ignored by society, while at the same time street crimes are emphasized?

Which of the statements is true when comparing and contrasting the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?

Taboos are the most serious of all rules, so the breaking of a taboo is also considered illegal behavior.

What must happen for a deviant act to be considered criminal?

Deviance becomes criminal when societies create formal sanctions via laws.

Classical theorists believe that criminals decide to engage in crime after engaging in hedonistic calculus.

Policies that offered greater financial support for education and a pathway to gainful employment in order to cause a reduction in crime would be consistent with which theory?

According to Merton, anomic imbalance exists in the United States because most people expect to achieve the American Dream of financial success, but it is very difficult for most people to achieve that dream using the institutionalized means.

Understanding and Solving Social Problems

Analyzing Economic Inequalities

Recognizing Racism and Racial Inequalities

Examining Gender Inequalities

Focusing on Sex and Sexualities

Preparing for Aging Societies

Making Sense of Migration and Immigration

Researching Environmental Problems

Understanding War and Terrorism

Identifying Problems in the Criminal Justice System

Discovering Problems in the Family

Pursuing Equity in Education

Prioritizing Health and Health Care Inequalities

Realizing the Powerand Vulnerabilityof Institutions

Filters