The Impact of Environment on Human Behavior Quiz

Rational Choice Theory and Crime

• Crime occurs when the perceived benefits outweigh the risks or costs associated with the act.
• The foundation of crime, according to the rational choice approach, is the decision-making process of individuals evaluating risks and rewards.

Emotional and Psychological Dimensions

• The emotional component relates to feelings that may drive criminal behavior, such as rage or fear.
• The most common emotion associated with violent crimes is anger.
• The volitional component pertains to an individual's capacity to make choices and execute decisions in a given situation.

Subjective vs. Biological Dimensions of Emotions

• Subjective dimensions relate to personal experiences and feelings, while biological dimensions involve physiological responses to emotional stimuli.

Characteristics of Psychopaths

• Major characteristics of psychopaths include a lack of empathy, manipulative behavior, superficial charm, and impulsivity.

Factors Contributing to Violence

• Major contributing factors in violence include environmental influences, social learning, and psychological traits.
• An alternative response to withdrawal or learned helplessness is proactive engagement or assertiveness.

Family Environmental Factors

• Family factors contributing to delinquent behavior include parental neglect, discord, and inconsistent disciplinary practices.

Child Perception Influences

• The most significant influence on a child's self-perception is parental feedback and interaction.

Parenting Styles and Traits

• Positive parenting can mute negative traits children may have from the socialization process, fostering resilience and adaptability.
• Burke (2014) suggests that supportive environments can shield children from criminality and antisocial behavior.

Intention and Criminal Behavior

• Intention is defined as the purpose or goal behind one's actions.
• Three forms of intention include direct intention, oblique intention, and recklessness.

Free Will and Determinism

• The continuum regarding free will spans from hard determinism, where all actions are predetermined, to complete free will, where individuals have absolute control over their choices.
• Hard determinism implies that human behavior is governed by preceding physical laws and circumstances.

Parental Influence on Delinquency

• Families with delinquent children commonly exhibit poor communication, low supervision, and lack of warmth.
• Parental discord negatively influences children's behavior, often leading to increased aggression and delinquency.

Parenting Skills and Conflict

• Effective parenting skills are crucial in mitigating delinquent behavior.
• Parental conflict affects children’s behavior even if parents are not separated; ongoing arguments can create a hostile environment.

Examples of Parental Conflict

• Examples of parental conflict may include verbal disagreements, inconsistent discipline, and lack of support for each other.

Soft Determinism

• Soft determinism suggests that while behavior is influenced by external factors, individuals retain some degree of free will in their decision-making.

Social Dimension Purpose

• The social dimension section aims to explore how social contexts and relationships influence criminal behavior.

Awareness and Capacity

• Awareness of unlawfulness refers to an individual's recognition that their actions are illegal, while capacity involves the ability to act according to that awareness and make sound decisions.