Question 1

Marxist criminologists often view that the "real" crimes in society are violations of human rights,such as racism and sexism,whereas those acts commonly referred to as "crime" are natural outgrowths of class struggle.

Accepted Answer

Marxist criminologists argue that the concept of "crime" is socially constructed and often serves the interests of the ruling class, while human rights violations are the true crimes that reflect systemic inequalities and oppression. They view criminal behavior as a product of social and economic factors, such as poverty and inequality, which are caused by the capitalist system and class struggle. Therefore, they prioritize the analysis of the structural roots of crime rather than the individual actions of offenders.

Question 2

_____ is a condition that entails the estrangement or distancing of individuals from something,such as another person,society in general,or the products of their labor.

Accepted Answer

Alienation refers to the feelings of isolation or separation from something, such as society, work, or other people. Altruism refers to selflessness and concern for the well-being of others. Emancipation refers to the act of gaining freedom or liberation from oppression or restrictions. Patriarchy refers to a social system in which men hold primary power and authority. None of these definitions match the given description as closely as the definition of alienation.

Question 3

Left realism seeks to translate _____ theory into practical,realistic social policies.

Accepted Answer

Left realism aims to apply Marxist theory to develop practical and realistic social policies to address crime and its causes.

Question 4

Conflict theory focuses on the social structural elements that lead to conflict,rather than the processes of value conflict.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Conflict theory focuses on the social structural...

Question 5

Bonger's concept of altruism refers to a concern only for one's own selfish interests.

Accepted Answer

Bonger's concept of altruism refers to a concern for the welfare of others, not just one's own selfish interests.

Question 6

A woman obtains a job as a sales representative.She realizes that when she works late at night,there is little oversight,and she could easily steal from the cash register without detection.This is an example of the _____ hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The emancipation hypothesis suggests that as women gain more equality and independence in society, they will engage in traditionally male deviant behaviors, such as theft. In this scenario, the sales representative's newfound independence and lack of oversight could lead her to consider stealing from the cash register.

Question 7

Left realism is an approach that attempts to translate radical ideas into realistic social policy.

Accepted Answer

Left realism seeks to address root causes of crime and inequality while also acknowledging the limitations and complexities of implementing radical solutions in a practical way. It advocates for policies such as community policing, restorative justice, and social programs that address poverty and inequality.

Question 8

A major criticism of critical theories is that they ignore the role of power relationships in explaining crime.

Accepted Answer

Critical theories actually emphasize the role of power relationships in explaining crime, rather than ignoring it. They argue that traditional theories of crime ignore the ways in which power and inequality shape the distribution and enforcement of criminal laws.

Question 9

The gender gap in crime rates tends to be the widest for drug offenses and other minor crimes.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women tend to be arrested and convicted for drug offenses and minor crimes at lower rates than men, resulting in a wider gender gap in these types of crimes. However, it is important to note that there are still significant gender disparities in the rates of more serious crimes as well.

Question 10

Conflict theory shares with labeling theory the idea crime is a social construct with no intrinsic meaning.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory argues that laws and definitions of crime are created by those in power to maintain their power and control over others. Labeling theory argues that behaviors only become crimes when they are labeled as such by society. Both perspectives suggest that crime is not an inherent characteristic of certain actions or individuals but rather a product of social norms and power dynamics.

Question 11

Max Weber viewed cultural ideas and beliefs as being molded entirely by the economic systems of society.

Accepted Answer

Max Weber did not view cultural ideas and beliefs as being entirely molded by economic systems. While he recognized the important role of economic factors in shaping society, he also emphasized the influence of religion, politics, and other cultural factors.

Question 12

A major critique of _____ is that its view of crime as a social construct may not give proper recognition to mala in se crimes.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theory views crime as a social construct, which can sometimes overlook the inherent wrongness of mala in se crimes, which are considered wrong by their very nature.

Question 13

There is still no theory of crime that is entirely female-specific,leaving feminist criminologists to focus on descriptive studies of crime,or on crime-specific "mini-theories."

Accepted Answer

Feminist criminologists have focused on descriptive studies of crime and crime-specific "mini-theories" because there is still no theory of crime that is entirely female-specific.

Question 14

George Vold views conflicts of interest as important in the understanding of criminal behavior.

Accepted Answer

George Vold’s theory of group conflict argues that criminal behavior is the result of conflicts of interest between different groups, which can lead to the use of force or coercion to achieve their goals. Thus, conflicts of interest are an important factor in understanding criminal behavior according to Vold.

Question 15

Karl Marx and his collaborator,Freidrich Engels,wrote extensively on the topics of crime and crime causation.

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels primarily focused on economic and social theories, particularly those related to capitalism and class struggle, rather than extensively writing on crime and crime causation.

Question 16

According to Marx,the lumpenproletariat would not play a decisive role in the expected revolution.

Accepted Answer

Marx believed that the lumpenproletariat, consisting of those who did not have a well-defined role in the production process such as beggars, prostitutes, and criminals, would not have the necessary class consciousness or organization to play a significant role in the proletarian revolution. He believed that the industrial proletariat would be the driving force behind the revolution.

Question 17

Research has supported that capitalism is associated with higher crime rates than socialism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research has supported that capitalism is associated...

Question 18

Restorative justice brings victims and offenders together to negotiate a mutually satisfactory way of correcting the wrong that has been committed.

Accepted Answer

Restorative justice is a process that involves bringing together victims, offenders, and sometimes other community members to discuss the harm that has been caused by the offender's actions and to come up with a plan for repairing that harm. This can include actions like restitution, community service, or an apology, among others. The goal of restorative justice is to address the underlying causes of the harm and to promote healing for everyone involved, rather than simply punishing the offender.

Question 19

In Marxist theory,which of the following terms was used to refer to the oppressed working class?

Accepted Answer

In Marxist theory, the term "proletariat" refers to the working class who are oppressed by the bourgeoisie, or the capitalist class. The proletariat is seen as having the potential to free themselves from oppression through revolution and the establishment of a classless society. The term "lumpenproletariat" refers to individuals or groups within society who are considered to have been excluded from the class struggle, including criminals, beggars, and other marginalized groups. The term "revolutionaries" could also describe members of the proletariat who actively seek to overthrow the bourgeoisie through political or violent means.

Question 20

The conflict perspective views criminal behavior,the law,and subsequent penalties as originating in the inequalities of power and resources existing in the society.

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective emphasizes how social inequality and power dynamics shape and influence criminal behavior, laws, and punishments. It suggests that those with less power and resources are more likely to engage in criminal behavior and receive harsher penalties, while those with more power and resources are able to avoid sanctions or receive lighter penalties. According to this perspective, the criminal justice system serves the interests of the powerful and reinforces existing inequalities in society.

Quiz 6: Critical Theories: Marxist, Conflict, and Feminist