Understanding School Violence and Criminal Behavior

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Questions and Answers

What are the primary characteristics of criminal thinking, according to Yochelson and Samenow?

Erroneous and irresponsible (correct)

Rational and ethical

Empathetic and remorseful

Deliberate and thoughtful

What personality traits are associated with increased offending behavior?

High levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness

Low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness (correct)

High levels of neuroticism and openness

Low levels of neuroticism and openness

What theory suggests that individuals will behave antisocially unless they learn not to?

Social Learning Theory

Cognitive Development Theory

Control Theory (correct)

Stimulation-Seeking Theory

What is a significant aspect of psychopathic behavior according to Hare's PCL-R?

Repeated criminal activity with little remorse Signup and view all the answers

What developmental stage involves individuals considering the legality of stealing as a deterrent?

Pre-Conventional Stage Signup and view all the answers

According to Stimulation-Seeking Theory, why do psychopaths engage in thrill-seeking behaviors?

To increase sensory input and arousal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four contributors to crime in the developmental sequence?

Environmental influences Signup and view all the answers

What is a common form of misconduct among law enforcement officials?

Coercing false confessions Signup and view all the answers

What was a common characteristic among boys responsible for school shootings?

Isolation and rejection by peers Signup and view all the answers

Which theoretical foundation posits that crime results from social or cultural forces?

Sociological Explanations Signup and view all the answers

How do biological explanations of crime differentiate between influences?

By comparing twin and adoption studies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common aspect of psychological theories of crime?

Individual differences can influence criminal conduct Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Virginia Tech massacre, what was one of Seung-Hui Cho's characteristics?

Detail-oriented planning of aggression Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects the Positivist School's view on punishment?

Punishment must fit the individual criminal, not the crime Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is often underestimated in educational settings regarding aggression?

Magnitude of reported bullying incidents Signup and view all the answers

What is a noted issue with the conclusions of the Positivist School of Criminology?

They relied on outdated methods of analysis Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Virginia Tech Massacre

Date: April 16, 2007; perpetrator: Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech.
Incident involved killing 32 people and wounding 17; two separate attacks occurred approximately two hours apart.
Cho committed suicide after the attacks.

Common Characteristics of Boys Responsible for School Shootings

Persistent fascination with firearms and atypical experiences with them.
Experiences of isolation, rejection, and difficulty relating to peers, particularly girls.
Preoccupation with graphically violent media such as music, internet sites, and video games.
Often face teasing related to physical appearance; many are frail or obese.
History of angry brooding tied to their status as perceived social outcasts.
Often develop detailed plans for aggression, frequently communicated to others in advance.
Bullying is prevalent in educational settings; unreported aggression often underestimates the problem.

Theoretical Foundations of Crime

Modern Theories of Criminal Behavior

Derives from the Positivist School of Criminology, utilizing the scientific method and empirical analysis.
Older methods lack credibility; emphasis on fitting punishment to the individual rather than the crime itself.

Theories of Crime Explanations

Sociological Explanations: Crime arises from social or cultural forces.
Biological Explanations: Focus on genetic influences, neuropsychological issues, and biochemical irregularities; child and twin studies highlight inherited tendencies toward crime.
Psychological Theories: Emphasize individual cognitive and emotional differences contributing to criminal behavior.
Psychoanalytic Theories: Crime results from a weak ego and superego that cannot control antisocial id impulses.

Criminal Thinking Patterns

Yochelson and Samenow propose that criminals exhibit fundamentally different thinking patterns that are erroneous and irresponsible.

Personality-Based Explanations of Criminality

Low levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness correlate with higher offending rates.
Psychopathy: Characterized by deceitful, manipulative behavior and lack of remorse; measured by Hare PCL and PCL-R.

Causes of Psychopathic Behavior

Potential left hemisphere deficiencies affecting behavior regulation and executive functioning.
Stimulation-Seeking Theory suggests that psychopaths engage in thrill-seeking to increase sensory input and arousal.

Control Theory: Suggests individuals will behave antisocially unless they learn otherwise.
Learning Theory: Describes how individuals acquire antisocial behaviors, emphasizing cognitive and observational learning.
Cognitive Development Theory: Argues offenders fail to develop moral judgment past the pre-conventional level, with distinct stages in moral reasoning from childhood to adulthood.

Integration of Theories of Crime

No single cause for crime exists; contributors follow a sequence:
- Antecedent conditions
- Early indicators
- Developmental processes
- Maintenance factors

Psychology of Police

Misconduct by Law Enforcement Officials

Common misconduct involves manipulation during identification procedures and coercion of false confessions, along with other deceptive practices.

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Description

This quiz explores the tragic case of the Virginia Tech Massacre, examining the perpetrator's background and the characteristics of school shooters. It delves into the broader context of school violence in the United States and the societal implications of such incidents. Gain insight into the patterns and motivations behind criminal behavior in educational settings.