Practice Exam: Sociology of Crimes & Ethics - Contemporary Criminological Theories (Set 63)
A 30-question practice exam covering modern theories of crime causation and criminological perspectives.
1. Which of the following best describes the core principle of Sutherland's Differential Association Theory?
A.Criminal behavior is a result of a person's biological predispositions.
B.Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication.
C.Criminal behavior is a rational choice made by an individual weighing costs and benefits.
D.Criminal behavior is caused by the strain between societal goals and the means to achieve them.
2. According to Akers' Social Learning Theory, what is the most important factor in the acquisition and maintenance of criminal behavior?
A.The presence of delinquent peers.
B.The differential reinforcement of criminal acts.
C.The lack of social bonds to conventional society.
D.The imitation of criminal models in the media.
3. A student cheats on an exam and justifies it by saying, "The professor is a terrible teacher, so they deserve it." Which technique of neutralization are they using?
A.Denial of responsibility
B.Denial of injury
C.Denial of the victim
D.Condemnation of the condemners
4. What concept did Albert Bandura introduce that is central to Social Learning Theory?
A.Operant conditioning
B.Observational learning and modeling
C.Anomie
D.Self-control
5. "I didn't steal the car, I just borrowed it for a joyride." This statement is an example of which technique of neutralization?
A.Appeal to higher loyalties
B.Denial of injury
C.Denial of responsibility
D.Metaphor of the ledger
6. Which of the following is NOT one of the four main concepts of Akers' Social Learning Theory?
A.Differential association
B.Definitions
C.Differential reinforcement
D.Social bonds
7. In Sutherland's theory, a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions ________ to violation of law over definitions ________ to violation of law.
A.unfavorable; favorable
B.favorable; unfavorable
C.neutral; biased
D.biased; neutral
8. A gang member who commits a crime to protect the honor of their group is most likely using which technique of neutralization?
A.Denial of the victim
B.Condemnation of the condemners
C.Appeal to higher loyalties
D.Denial of responsibility
9. Which statement is most consistent with Social Learning Theory?
A."He was born a criminal."
B."He had no choice but to turn to crime due to poverty."
C."He started hanging out with the wrong crowd and saw they got respect by being tough."
D."He never learned to control his impulses."
10. The concept of "definitions" in Akers' theory refers to:
A.Legal statutes and codes.
B.The punishments associated with a crime.
C.One's own attitudes or meanings that one attaches to a given behavior.
D.The social status of the offender.
11. Travis Hirschi's Social Bond Theory argues that crime is more likely to occur when:
A.A person's bond to their peers is stronger than their bond to their family.
B.A person's bond to society is weak or broken.
C.A person learns pro-criminal definitions.
D.A person experiences significant societal strain.
12. Which of the following is NOT one of the four elements of the social bond according to Hirschi?
A.Attachment
B.Commitment
C.Reinforcement
D.Involvement
13. In the General Theory of Crime, what single trait is proposed as the primary cause of all crime and deviance?
A.High intelligence
B.Social disorganization
C.Low self-control
D.Negative affect
14. According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, where does low self-control originate?
A.Genetic predisposition
B.Ineffective or inadequate child-rearing
C.Peer group influence during adolescence
D.Economic deprivation
15. A person who is heavily invested in their education and future career is less likely to commit crime, according to Hirschi. This is an example of which element of the social bond?
A.Attachment
B.Commitment
C.Involvement
D.Belief
16. The proposition that "idle hands are the devil's workshop" is most closely related to which element of the social bond?
A.Attachment
B.Commitment
C.Involvement
D.Belief
17. How does Control Theory differ from most other criminological theories?
A.It focuses primarily on why people conform to societal rules.
B.It assumes that people are naturally good and must be corrupted.
C.It asks why people *don't* commit crime, rather than why they do.
D.It is exclusively a macro-level theory.
18. According to the General Theory of Crime, which of the following is a characteristic of criminal acts?
A.They provide long-term, delayed gratification.
B.They require complex planning and skill.
C.They provide immediate, easy, or simple gratification of desires.
D.They are typically committed by specialists.
19. Critical Criminology is primarily concerned with:
A.Identifying the biological traits of offenders.
B.Measuring the effectiveness of police strategies.
C.Challenging traditional understandings of crime and justice by examining power structures.
D.Understanding the learning process of criminal behavior.
20. According to Marxist Criminology, crime in a capitalist society is:
A.A product of individual moral failure.
B.An inevitable outcome of the struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
C.A learned behavior transmitted through peer groups.
D.A result of low self-control.
21. Which theory would be most likely to analyze how the legal system disproportionately punishes crimes committed by the poor while ignoring the harmful actions of corporations?
A.Social Bond Theory
B.Social Learning Theory
C.Conflict Theory
D.Rational Choice Theory
22. Feminist Criminology criticizes mainstream criminological theories for:
A.Overemphasizing the role of economic factors.
B.Focusing too much on violent crime.
C.Ignoring the experiences of women and adopting a male-centered perspective (androcentrism).
D.Being too critical of the criminal justice system.
23. The concept of "hegemonic masculinity" is sometimes used in feminist criminology to explain:
A.Why women have lower crime rates than men.
B.How the dominant, idealized form of masculinity in a culture can encourage aggression and crime among men.
C.The historical oppression of women.
D.The biological differences between men and women.
24. A critical criminologist would view the "War on Drugs" as:
A.A necessary and effective public health campaign.
B.A rational response to rising crime rates.
C.A way to criminalize and control marginalized populations, particularly racial minorities.
D.A policy that failed due to a lack of funding.
25. Which theory suggests that criminal behavior is the outcome of a decision-making process where individuals weigh the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act?
A.Social Disorganization Theory
B.Rational Choice Theory
C.General Strain Theory
D.Social Learning Theory
26. Life-Course Criminology is primarily interested in:
A.A single, static cause of crime.
B.The development of offending and antisocial behavior from childhood to adulthood.
C.The geographic distribution of crime.
D.The immediate situation in which a crime occurs.
27. According to Sampson and Laub's Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control, what can lead an offender to desist from crime?
A.A genetic predisposition to conformity.
B.An increase in self-control.
C.The acquisition of quality social bonds in adulthood, such as a stable job or a good marriage.
D.A rational calculation that crime no longer pays.
28. An integrated theory in criminology is one that:
A.Focuses on a single, powerful explanation for all crime.
B.Combines concepts and propositions from two or more different theories to create a more comprehensive explanation.
C.Integrates the study of crime with the study of law enforcement.
D.Only uses data from multiple countries.
29. Moffitt's Developmental Taxonomy of Offending proposes two main types of offenders. What are they?
A.The rational offender and the impulsive offender.
B.The violent offender and the property offender.
C.The life-course-persistent offender and the adolescence-limited offender.
D.The conformist and the innovator.
30. Which of the following is a key criticism of Rational Choice Theory?
A.It overemphasizes the role of emotions in crime.
B.It may not fully account for crimes that are impulsive, emotional, or influenced by drugs or alcohol.
C.It ignores the role of individual choice and free will.
D.It is not applicable to property crimes.