Learning Check Answers

Learning Check 13.1

1. According to the text, how do developmental/life-course theories of crime differ from traditional explanatory models?

a. Developmental models focus more on group rates of crime.

b. Developmental theories tend to put more emphasis on the state of the economy.

c. Developmental models emphasize following individuals through various stages in their lives.

d. Developmental theories focus more on the political changes that occur.

Answer: C

2. According to the text, which of the many concepts/factors in developmental theory seems to offer the best chance of predicting future criminality?

a. desistance

b. early onset

c. duration

d. frequency (lambda)

Answer: B

3. According to a study discussed in the text, a survey of 387 criminologists found that developmental/life-course theory was ranked __________ among all existing theoretical perspectives in its ability to explain serious criminal behavior.

a. No. 1

b. No. 2

c. No. 4

d. No. 7

Answer: B

Learning Check 13.2

1. According to the text, which developmental theory focuses on transitions and trajectories in our life course as reasons why individuals reduce their criminal offending—transitions such as getting married or obtaining a job?

a. Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy

b. Thornberry’s interactional model

c. Sampson and Laub’s developmental theory

d. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory of low self-control

Answer: C

2. According to the text, which developmental theory focuses on two different types of offenders—namely, life-course persistent offenders and adolescence-limited offenders?

a. Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy

b. Thornberry’s interactional model

c. Sampson and Laub’s developmental theory

d. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory of low self-control

Answer: A

3. According to the text, which developmental theory focuses on certain factors having different influences at certain times in a person’s life, as well as the reciprocal or feedback effects of subsequent variables or behaviors on the earlier antecedent factors, creating a feedback loop?

a. Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy

b. Thornberry’s interactional model

c. Sampson and Laub’s developmental theory

d. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory of low self-control

Answer: B

4. According to the text, which theoretical model is considered “antidevelopmental” in the sense that it proposes that once an individual has an early propensity toward criminality, it is virtually impossible to change that propensity and such a person will likely continue offending?

a. Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy

b. Thornberry’s interactional model

c. Sampson and Laub’s developmental theory

d. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory of low self-control

Answer: D