Criminal Behavior Theories Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which explanation posits that certain strains or stressors can increase the likelihood of crime?

Control theory

Strain theory (correct)

Biological explanation

Cultural/labelling theory

Among the biological explanations, which factor is most closely linked to structural deficits in the brain associated with criminal behavior?

Amygdala (correct)

Heritability

Neurotransmitters

Testosterone levels

What aspect of control theories suggests that an individual's bond to society influences their likelihood of committing a crime?

Cultural assimilation

Social control (correct)

Gene/environment interaction

Subcultural identity

Which type of genetic explanation examines how both genetics and environmental factors affect behavior?

Epigenetics Signup and view all the answers

What is a methodological challenge often considered in studying the causes of crime?

The complexity of measuring crime rates in heterogeneous populations Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to victimization among children and infants?

Physical and emotional vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of victims identified as females in victimology?

Physical and financial vulnerability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a concept from Routine Activities Theory?

Urbanization increasing anonymity Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic group is most likely to be classified as vulnerable due to lack of cultural familiarity?

Immigrants Signup and view all the answers

In terms of victim precipitation theory, what is primarily associated with provoking victimization?

Individual behavior and actions Signup and view all the answers

What vulnerability factor is specifically associated with the elderly as a victim group?

Economic dependency and physical weaknesses Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key aspect of victim blaming in victim precipitation theory?

Attributing responsibility to victims for their circumstances Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of motivated offenders in the context of victimization theories?

The ability to exploit opportunities Signup and view all the answers

What does the structural-choice model emphasize about individuals in relation to their environment?

Individuals make choices based on their perception of opportunity and routine activities. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is least associated with the 'choice part' of the structural-choice model in relation to potential victims?

The physical visibility of a target. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of predatory stranger crimes, what does the term 'guardianship' refer to?

The presence of people or mechanisms that can prevent crime. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'attractiveness' of a target in the context of the structural-choice model?

The potential benefits or rewards perceived by an offender. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of a victim's location is highlighted in the structural part of the model?

The physical closeness and accessibility of the victim. Signup and view all the answers

Which area of psychology primarily focuses on understanding and reducing criminal behavior?

Criminological Psychology Signup and view all the answers

What is a basic source of tension between psychology and law regarding the understanding of human behavior?

Descriptive vs. Prescriptive Signup and view all the answers

In forensic psychology, what is the primary area of application?

Application of psychology to the legal system Signup and view all the answers

Which type of psychology is concerned with the psychological aspects of law enforcement and police function?

Police Psychology Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of psychology in its relation to law?

Explanation of human behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective evaluates the mental state of witnesses within the context of legal decision-making?

Cognitive Psychology Signup and view all the answers

In terms of methodology, which of the following contrasts with the perspective of psychology?

Past-oriented vs. Future-oriented Signup and view all the answers

What obligation do psychologists have in the context of legal proceedings?

To provide expert testimony in court Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects the misconception about sexual assault victims with disabilities?

People with disabilities are more often victims of sexual assault than those without disabilities. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about consent and sex workers is accurate?

Sex workers can be raped and have the same rights as any other individual. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main legal definition of a crime according to the content provided?

An act or omission punishable by law. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes acts that are condemned by the public or penalized by the state?

Criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement demonstrates the dynamic nature of crime?

An individual can be considered a criminal at one time and not at another due to changing laws. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of sexual violence, which prevention method is highlighted?

Intervening as a bystander to help those at risk. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated about the nature of 'core' offenses?

They are viewed as more serious and subject to severe penalties. Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is a common misconception about the ability to prevent sexual violence?

There are no effective methods to intervene in potential assaults. Signup and view all the answers

Which DSM version showed the highest proportion of diagnoses involving violence as a defining symptom?

DSM-III (1980) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of mentally ill offenders are reported to be homeless?

33% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a main symptom of psychotic disorders?

Depressive episodes Signup and view all the answers

Which type of hallucination is associated with aggression towards others?

Command Signup and view all the answers

What is the range of odds ratios (OR) for violent behavior in individuals with psychotic disorders?

2-28 Signup and view all the answers

According to the summary, which is a main risk factor for violence?

Previous history of violence Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of impulse control disorders?

Failure to regulate impulses and emotions Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT classified under major mental disorders?

Intermittent explosive disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate prevalence of violent victimization in mentally ill individuals over the last year?

4-35% Signup and view all the answers

What is a common associated factor for violent victimization?

Substance use Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the increased visibility of mentally ill offenders post-deinstitutionalization?

Rights to refuse treatment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following personality disorder criteria involves stability over time?

Pervasive and inflexible behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT represent a symptom type associated with psychotic disorders?

Chronic fatigue Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the term 'deinstitutionalization'?

Providing mental health care in community settings Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Psychology and Crime

This lecture covers the causes of crime from sociological/criminological, geographic, economic, biological, psychological, and developmental life-course perspectives.
Strain theories suggest that certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime.
Specific strain theories include classic strain theory (Merton, 1938) and general strain theory (Agnew, 2006).
Control theories explore factors that influence an individual's self-control.
Cultural/labeling theories examine the impact of labeling on individuals' actions.
Biological explanations for crime consider behavioral genetics, heritability, gene/environment correlations (active, passive, evocative rGE), epigenetics (gene/environment interaction GXE), brain structural/functional deficits (e.g., prefrontal cortex, amygdala), neurophysiological processes, neurotransmitters (e.g., dopaminergic and serotonergic systems), and hormones (e.g., testosterone).

Psychological Explanations

Psychodynamic, Social Learning, Cognitive, and Affective theories explain criminal behavior.
Psychodynamic theory focuses on unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences.
Social Learning theory examines interaction with others, observation, modeling, and reinforcement in the development of criminal behavior.
Cognitive theory explores faulty thinking patterns and cognitive distortions related to criminal behavior.
Affective theory focuses on emotional processes related to offending behaviour.
Object Relations Theory and Self-Psychology are further explored under psychodynamic explanations.

Methodological Challenges

Challenges in studying crime include determining if a single homogeneous group exists, and the reliability and validity of self-report questionnaires.

Trait Theory Explanations

Single trait approaches to crime study specific traits.
General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990) is a single-trait model.
Eysenck's PEN model (1977, 1996) identifies extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism as major personality traits.
Big Five Personality Traits (Costa and McCrae, 1997) examines the five major factors: extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness.

Victimology

Victimology examines the etiology (causes) of victimization, its consequences, how the criminal justice system deals with victims, and how other societal elements handle crime victims.
Victimization is a process.
Victim types and levels of victimization are explored.

Theories of Victimization

Lifestyle theories identify high-risk lifestyles as a contributing factor to victimization (e.g., homelessness, criminal peers, etc.)
Routine Activities theory explains victimization based on the presence of suitable targets, motivated offenders, and the absence of capable guardians.
Victim precipitation theory considers factors where the victim contributes to their own victimization (facilitating or provoking actions).
Victim risk factors, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and social status, are analyzed.

Consequences of Crime - PTSD

Consequences of crime, including PTSD and trauma syndromes (rape trauma syndrome), are explored across different situations.

Victim Support

This study discusses various methods of victim support, such as witness protection programs, peace bonds, restraining orders, publication bans (rape shield), provisions for compensation, victim statements in court, victim-offender reconciliation programs, alternative measures, public education, and school-based programs, including law enforcement programs (crisis intervention, sexual assault centers, shelters, hotlines, and websites), and community organization (community organizing, block parents, crime stoppers, and neighbourhood watch groups), as well as volunteer patrols, self-protection, and target-hardening.

Rape Myths

There are several common misconceptions about rape.
These include victim responsibility, belief concerning false reports of abuse, and the circumstances under which sexual assault happens (public places, outdoors, etc).

Crime and Measuring Crime

Legal definitions of crime vary based on location/region/time.
Different approaches to defining and measuring crime, such as official statistics and victim surveys, are discussed.
The importance of measuring crime (how prevalent, how to track changes over time, etc.) and its different approaches (e.g., official crime statistics, surveys, offender surveys) are also explored.
The official criminal statistics used for measuring crime are regularly collected by law enforcement but have weaknesses/shortcomings.

Criminal Psychology - Introduction

The goals of the course are introduced.
The structure and scope of the topics covered are outlined.
Expected outcomes of the course in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes and autonomy and responsibility are also discussed.

Psychopathy

Psychopathy is defined and discussed; differing views of it, its impact within the criminal justice system, treatment options and related controversies are reviewed.
Theories of psychopathy, such as the Triarchic Model and the CAPP model are covered.
The role of psychopathic traits and their connection to recidivism are discussed.

Violence and Mental Disorders

Associations between mental disorders and violence are discussed.
Symptoms and risk factors associated with various mental disorders (psychosis, mood disorders, impulse control disorders, personality disorders) are highlighted. The possibility of comorbidity (presence of more than one disorder in the same person) is explored.
Specific behaviors in violence, such as command hallucinations, are described.
Risk factors associated with violence among adolescents are covered.
Various intervention strategies for addressing violent behavior in adolescents are outlined. (Functional Family Therapy, Multi-Systemic Therapy, Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, and the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center)

Investigative Support

The concepts of a scientific method in investigation, criminal behavioral analysis, and the use of various approaches toward achieving investigative support in crime investigation, such as Crime Scene Analysis, Threat and Risk Assessment, Geographical Analysis, Media Strategy Advice, Psychological Autopsy, and Research and Development are presented.
The importance of proper interviewing techniques (MI techniques, including HEAR, for example) and legal approaches when gathering evidence and facts about cases are underscored.

Conclusion

It is important to consider various risk factors and protective factors for early and late-onset violence. There is an overview of various theories and different models developed through studies that examined the course of crime development and offending and desistance. A major takeaway is that while measures exist to understand and potentially predict potential violence, there's no way to definitely determine who may or may not act violently. A range of factors is always at play, making a definite "why" not always possible despite significant research.

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Test your knowledge on various theories related to criminal behavior, including biological, sociological, and control theories. This quiz will explore factors influencing crime, genetic explanations, and methodological challenges in criminology. Ideal for students studying criminal psychology or sociology.