Question 1

Positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining are known as:
A) social connections.
B) antisocial bonds.
C) social capital.
D) turning points.

Accepted Answer

Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit, which includes positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life-sustaining.

Question 2

The life events most likely to enable adult offenders to desist from crime are:
A) religion and marriage.
B) marriage and career.
C) education and religion.
D) marriage and education.

Accepted Answer

Marriage and career are significant life events that can lead to desistance from crime in adults. Marriage can provide a stable personal environment and a sense of responsibility, while a career can offer financial stability and a positive social identity, both of which are crucial for moving away from criminal activities.

Question 3

When referring to age-graded theory, research supports Sampson and Laub's assertion that criminal career trajectories can be reversed if:
A) life conditions improve.
B) criminal labels are withdrawn.
C) criminal labels are not internalized.
D) social capital is reduced.

Accepted Answer

Sampson and Laub's age-graded theory of informal social control suggests that improvements in life conditions, such as stable employment or marriage, can lead to desistance from crime, thus supporting the idea that criminal career trajectories can be reversed if life conditions improve.

Question 4

Which cognitive framework helps people quickly process and sort through information?
A) social schema
B) propensity
C) latent trait
D) social contract

Accepted Answer

Social schema is a cognitive framework that helps individuals quickly process and sort through information by organizing it into categories based on social experiences and expectations.

Question 5

According to Farrington, ____________involves direct forms of physical violence such as robbery, sexual assault, or other forms of assault.
A) predation
B) defiance
C) submission
D) control

Accepted Answer

Predation involves direct forms of physical violence such as robbery, sexual assault, or other forms of assault, according to Farrington.

Question 6

According to Farrington, __________challenges control mechanisms but stops short of physical harm; for example, in such cases as vandalism, curfew violations, and unconventional sex.
A) predation
B) defiance
C) submission
D) deviance

Accepted Answer

Defiance refers to actions that challenge control mechanisms without causing physical harm, such as vandalism and curfew violations.

Question 7

The general theory of crime identifies five life domains that shape how an individual reacts to constraints and motivations. Which of these is not a life domain?
A) self
B) religion
C) family
D) school

Accepted Answer

The general theory of crime does not list religion as one of the life domains that shape how an individual reacts to constraints and motivations. The recognized domains typically include self, family, school, and peers or work, focusing on areas directly influencing personal development and social behavior.

Question 8

A stable feature, characteristic, property, or condition present at birth or established early in life that makes some people crime-prone over the life course is known as a(n):
A) life factor.
B) hidden characteristic.
C) underlying feature.
D) latent trait.

Accepted Answer

Latent traits are stable features, characteristics, properties, or conditions that are present at birth or established early in life, which can predispose individuals to engage in criminal behavior throughout their lives.

Question 9

An inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way is called a(n):
A) propensity.
B) factor.
C) incidence.
D) trait.

Accepted Answer

A propensity is a natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way, fitting the definition provided.

Question 10

What theory developed by Gottfredson and Hirschi considers the criminal offender and the criminal act as separate concepts?
A) human nature theory
B) age-graded theory
C) interactional theory
D) general theory of crime

Accepted Answer

The general theory of crime, developed by Gottfredson and Hirschi, posits that low self-control is a key factor leading to criminal behavior, treating the criminal offender and the criminal act as separate concepts.

Question 11

_____ who have early experiences with antisocial behavior are the ones most likely to persist in such throughout their life course.
A) Boys
B) Girls
C) Boys and girls
D) Children of adopted parents

Accepted Answer

Both boys and girls who have early experiences with antisocial behavior are at risk of persisting in such behaviors throughout their life, indicating that the tendency is not limited to one gender.

Question 12

Life events that enable adult offenders to desist from crime are known as:
A) developmental shifts.
B) transition events.
C) key spots.
D) turning points.

Accepted Answer

Turning points are significant life events that can lead to a change in the direction of an individual's life, including desistance from criminal behavior.

Question 13

Most life course theories posit that the seeds of a criminal career are planted:
A) during young adulthood (20s).
B) at any time during the life course.
C) late in life.
D) early in life.

Accepted Answer

Most life course theories suggest that the foundations for a criminal career are established early in life, often during childhood or adolescence, due to various risk factors such as family environment, socioeconomic status, and early behavioral problems.

Question 14

_____ is a crime-reducing social event. Research proves it to be a key element of social capital and informal social control that allows offenders to lead more conventional lifestyles.
A) Unemployment
B) Marriage
C) Exiting prison
D) Being a victim

Accepted Answer

Marriage is considered a crime-reducing social event because it is associated with increased social capital and informal social control, which can encourage individuals to adopt more conventional lifestyles and reduce their involvement in criminal activities.

Question 15

High levels of coercion produce criminality; coercion that involves pressures beyond an individual's control, such as economic and social pressure caused by unemployment or poverty, is termed _____ coercion.
A) covert
B) latent
C) interpersonal
D) impersonal

Accepted Answer

Impersonal coercion refers to pressures that are beyond an individual's control, such as economic and social pressures caused by unemployment or poverty, which can contribute to criminal behavior.

Question 16

According to Farrington, ____________ involves passive obedience to the demands of others, such as submitting to physical or sexual abuse without response.
A) predation
B) defiance
C) submission
D) trait

Accepted Answer

Submission involves passive obedience to the demands of others, including submitting to abuse without response, according to Farrington.

Question 17

Most life course theories assume that the seeds of a criminal career are planted early in life and that early onset of deviance strongly predicts:
A) the cycle of violence.
B) subsequent poor parenting ability.
C) one's age of desistance.
D) later and more serious criminality.

Accepted Answer

Most life course theories posit that early deviant behaviors are indicative of a trajectory that leads to more serious criminal activities later in life. This perspective suggests that patterns of criminal behavior are established early and tend to escalate in severity over time.

Question 18

What is known about the marriage factor and crime?
A) People who maintain successful marriages are more likely to mature out of a life of crime.
B) Marriage stabilizes people.
C) The marriage benefit may be intergenerational.
D) All of these are true about the marriage factor and crime.

Accepted Answer

Research in criminology and sociology suggests that marriage can have a stabilizing effect on individuals, leading to a decrease in criminal behavior. This phenomenon, often referred to as the "marriage effect," indicates that individuals who enter into and maintain successful marriages are more likely to desist from crime, suggesting a maturation process. Additionally, the benefits of a stable marriage may extend beyond the individuals directly involved, potentially affecting future generations by providing a more stable and supportive environment for children, which can reduce the likelihood of them engaging in criminal activities.

Question 19

According to latent trait theories, why are people who are antisocial during adolescence the most likely to persist in crime?
A) b ecause latent traits are stable
B) because adolescents tend to associate with deviant peers
C) because educational achievement is more difficult during an adolescent's middle- and high-school years
D) because cognitive ability is fully formed by adolescence

Accepted Answer

Latent trait theories suggest that personal traits or characteristics, which are stable over time, influence the likelihood of engaging in criminal or antisocial behavior. Therefore, if someone is antisocial during adolescence, these stable latent traits may continue to influence their behavior into adulthood, making them more likely to persist in crime.

Question 20

According to theories of the life course, information processing and attention/perception are examples of _____ factors.
A) situational
B) socialization
C) social
D) cognitive

Accepted Answer

Information processing and attention/perception are considered cognitive factors because they relate to the processes of the mind that involve understanding, thinking, learning, and remembering.

Quiz 9: Developmental Theories: Life Course, Latent Trait, and Trajectory

Positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining are known as:

The life events most likely to enable adult offenders to desist from crime are:

When referring to age-graded theory, research supports Sampson and Laub's assertion that criminal career trajectories can be reversed if:

Which cognitive framework helps people quickly process and sort through information?

According to Farrington, ____________involves direct forms of physical violence such as robbery, sexual assault, or other forms of assault.

According to Farrington, __________challenges control mechanisms but stops short of physical harm; for example, in such cases as vandalism, curfew violations, and unconventional sex.

The general theory of crime identifies five life domains that shape how an individual reacts to constraints and motivations. Which of these is not a life domain?

A stable feature, characteristic, property, or condition present at birth or established early in life that makes some people crime-prone over the life course is known as a(n) :

An inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way is called a(n) :

What theory developed by Gottfredson and Hirschi considers the criminal offender and the criminal act as separate concepts?

_____ who have early experiences with antisocial behavior are the ones most likely to persist in such throughout their life course.

Life events that enable adult offenders to desist from crime are known as:

Most life course theories posit that the seeds of a criminal career are planted:

_____ is a crime-reducing social event. Research proves it to be a key element of social capital and informal social control that allows offenders to lead more conventional lifestyles.

High levels of coercion produce criminality; coercion that involves pressures beyond an individual's control, such as economic and social pressure caused by unemployment or poverty, is termed _____ coercion.

According to Farrington, ____________ involves passive obedience to the demands of others, such as submitting to physical or sexual abuse without response.

Most life course theories assume that the seeds of a criminal career are planted early in life and that early onset of deviance strongly predicts:

What is known about the marriage factor and crime?

According to latent trait theories, why are people who are antisocial during adolescence the most likely to persist in crime?

According to theories of the life course, information processing and attention/perception are examples of _____ factors.