Criminology Chapter 9

According to Wilson and Herrnstein’s crime and human nature view, a criminal incident occurs when an individual chooses criminal over conventional behavior. What factor influences this choice?​

• ​Social capital

  
  

• ​Peer influence

  
  

•  

  ​A latent trait

  
  

• ​Low self-control

  
  

Gottfredson and Hirschi trace the root cause of poor self-control to inadequate child-rearing practices.​

• True

• False

Although criminal offenders are people predisposed to crime, they are not robots who commit crime without restraint. According to the general theory of crime, change in the frequency of criminal activity is a function of change in​

• ​environmental conditions.

  
  

• ​one’s level of impulsivity.

  
  

• ​criminal opportunity.

  
  

•  

  ​one’s level of self-control.

  
  

According to latent trait theory, the propensity to commit crime is unstable, but the opportunity to commit crime remains stable over time.

• True

• False

According to the general theory of crime, people who are risky and want immediate gratification possess​

• ​low self-control.

  
  

• ​high self-esteem.

  
  

• ​low self-esteem.

  
  

• ​high self-control.

  
  

Criminal late starters are more likely to be involved in violent crimes.​

• True

• False

Latent trait theories hold that human development is controlled by a “master trait” present at birth or soon after.​

• True

• False

According to trajectory theory, some people enter multiple pathways to crime simultaneously.​

• True

• False

​According to latent trait theory, when does a latent trait appear?

• ​At birth or soon after

  
  

• ​During adolescence

  
  

• ​During childhood

  
  

• ​During early adulthood

  
  

​Why is early onset an important factor in the study of crime?

• ​Because latent traits may have gone unnoticed or unidentified at birth

  
  

• ​Because the earlier that antisocial behavior is identified, the earlier that turning points can be implemented

  
  

• ​Because early onset of antisocial behavior is void of the crime/non-crime choice mechanism suggested by Wilson and Herrnstein

  
  

• ​Because early onset of antisocial behavior predicts later and more serious criminality