TEST BANK FOR CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR: A PSYCHOLOGICAL
APPROACH 12TH EDITION
(BARTOL) CHAPTERS 1 - 16,
COMPLETE
Test Bank for Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach (12e, Bartol) — Complete Questions with
Answers and Rationales
Chapter 1: Introduction to Criminal Behavior
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1) Criminal behavior is best defined as
A) antisocial behavior.
B) deviant behavior.
C) an intentional act in violation of a criminal code.
D) a failure to impede the criminal process.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Criminal behavior is legally defined as an intentional act in violation of a criminal code. While
criminal behavior may be antisocial or deviant, those terms are broader and not synonymous with
criminal behavior. The legal definition requires intent and violation of criminal law.
2) The end result of a theory that is not verified is
A) justification.
B) falsification.
C) clarification.
D) subjugation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: In the scientific method, when a theory is not verified through research, it undergoes
falsification. Falsification is the process by which a hypothesis or theory is disproven through empirical
testing. This is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of science.
,3) Which piece of data would be included in the UCR?
A) A reported robbery with no arrest
B) A reported forgery with no arrest
C) A reported simple assault with no arrest
D) A reported statutory rape with no arrest
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The UCR includes reported crime data for Part I offenses, which include four violent crimes
(murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and four property crimes
(burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson). Robbery is a Part I violent crime and would be
included even without an arrest. Forgery, simple assault, and statutory rape are not Part I offenses.
4) All of the following are consistent with the developmental approach to the study of crime except
A) examining factors that place a child at risk of engaging in serious delinquency.
B) identifying the age of onset of antisocial behavior.
C) searching for protective factors in a child's life.
D) examining the unequal power distribution among members of society.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: The developmental approach focuses on risk factors, protective factors, age of onset, and
developmental pathways across a person's lifetime. Examining unequal power distribution among
members of society is a sociological/conflict perspective, not a developmental approach.
5) According to the authors, our inability to prevent crime is largely due to the
A) declining interest in the field of criminology.
B) lack of available research funding.
C) complexity of the issue.
D) difficulty in defining relevant terms.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The authors emphasize that crime is a complex issue with multiple causes, manifestations,
and developmental pathways. This complexity makes prevention difficult. While defining terms is
challenging, the primary reason is the complexity of the issue itself.
,6) After hearing that her neighbors' home was burglarized, Dee told her co-worker that her neighbors
were asking for the burglary because they never locked their doors and didn't have security system.
Dee's statements reflect the
A) fairness doctrine.
B) self-fulfilling prophecy.
C) cognition distortion.
D) just-world hypothesis.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: The just-world hypothesis is the cognitive bias that assumes the world is fair and people get
what they deserve. Dee blames the victims for their burglary, believing they "asked for it" by not locking
their doors—a classic example of just-world thinking that helps people feel safe by believing bad things
only happen to those who deserve them.
7) Dr. Brown is a developmental criminologist. Dr. Brown's research most likely examines
A) demographic features of offenders who participate in burglary.
B) how violent individuals learn their aggressive behavior.
C) the unequal power distribution among members of society.
D) when robberies most frequently occur.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Developmental criminology examines changes and influences across a person's lifetime that
contribute to antisocial and criminal behavior, including how behaviors are learned and developed.
Examining how violent individuals learn aggressive behavior is a developmental question. Demographic
features, power distribution, and temporal patterns are not developmental in nature.
8) Sara is a 23-year-old, single, college graduate who has just moved into her first apartment. She is
working as a barista at the local coffee house while she considers her career options. Which term best
describes Sara's current life stage?
A) Adolescent-limited
B) Emerging adulthood
C) Life-course persistent
D) Social control
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage from roughly ages 18-25 where individuals
explore identity, career options, and relationships before settling into adult roles. Sara, at 23, single,
, recently graduated, and exploring career options, fits this stage. Adolescent-limited refers to a pattern
of offending, not a life stage. Life-course persistent is an offending pattern. Social control is a theory.
9) Positivist theory is to as classical theory is to
A) determinism; free will
B) jurisprudence; behavior
C) cognitions; biology
D) predictability; social norms
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Positivist theory assumes determinism—that behavior is caused by factors beyond individual
control (biological, psychological, social). Classical theory assumes free will—that individuals choose to
commit crimes after weighing costs and benefits. This is the fundamental distinction between the two
schools of criminological thought.
10) Which perspective on crime is most closely linked with the humanistic perspective?
A) Conformity
B) Strain
C) Learning
D) Determinism
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The conformity perspective, associated with social control theory, views humans as born
neutral and subject to developmental changes. It aligns with the humanistic perspective that
emphasizes human potential and choice. Determinism is the opposite of humanistic (which emphasizes
free will). Strain and learning perspectives are more deterministic in nature.
11) Which statement reflects the basic premise of strain theory?
A) Crime occurs when there is a discrepancy between the materialistic values and goals cherished in our
society and the availability of legitimate means for reaching these goals.
B) Crime occurs when a society's values are too materialistic.
C) Crime occurs when society places too much value and emphasis on doing the right thing for the
highest number of individuals.
D) Crime occurs when one's level of stress outweighs one's coping mechanisms.
ANSWER: A
BEHAVIOR: A PSYCHOLOGICAL
APPROACH 12TH EDITION
(BARTOL) CHAPTERS 1 - 16,
COMPLETE
Test Bank for Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach (12e, Bartol) — Complete Questions with
Answers and Rationales
Chapter 1: Introduction to Criminal Behavior
1.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1) Criminal behavior is best defined as
A) antisocial behavior.
B) deviant behavior.
C) an intentional act in violation of a criminal code.
D) a failure to impede the criminal process.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: Criminal behavior is legally defined as an intentional act in violation of a criminal code. While
criminal behavior may be antisocial or deviant, those terms are broader and not synonymous with
criminal behavior. The legal definition requires intent and violation of criminal law.
2) The end result of a theory that is not verified is
A) justification.
B) falsification.
C) clarification.
D) subjugation.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: In the scientific method, when a theory is not verified through research, it undergoes
falsification. Falsification is the process by which a hypothesis or theory is disproven through empirical
testing. This is a fundamental concept in the philosophy of science.
,3) Which piece of data would be included in the UCR?
A) A reported robbery with no arrest
B) A reported forgery with no arrest
C) A reported simple assault with no arrest
D) A reported statutory rape with no arrest
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The UCR includes reported crime data for Part I offenses, which include four violent crimes
(murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and four property crimes
(burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson). Robbery is a Part I violent crime and would be
included even without an arrest. Forgery, simple assault, and statutory rape are not Part I offenses.
4) All of the following are consistent with the developmental approach to the study of crime except
A) examining factors that place a child at risk of engaging in serious delinquency.
B) identifying the age of onset of antisocial behavior.
C) searching for protective factors in a child's life.
D) examining the unequal power distribution among members of society.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: The developmental approach focuses on risk factors, protective factors, age of onset, and
developmental pathways across a person's lifetime. Examining unequal power distribution among
members of society is a sociological/conflict perspective, not a developmental approach.
5) According to the authors, our inability to prevent crime is largely due to the
A) declining interest in the field of criminology.
B) lack of available research funding.
C) complexity of the issue.
D) difficulty in defining relevant terms.
ANSWER: C
Rationale: The authors emphasize that crime is a complex issue with multiple causes, manifestations,
and developmental pathways. This complexity makes prevention difficult. While defining terms is
challenging, the primary reason is the complexity of the issue itself.
,6) After hearing that her neighbors' home was burglarized, Dee told her co-worker that her neighbors
were asking for the burglary because they never locked their doors and didn't have security system.
Dee's statements reflect the
A) fairness doctrine.
B) self-fulfilling prophecy.
C) cognition distortion.
D) just-world hypothesis.
ANSWER: D
Rationale: The just-world hypothesis is the cognitive bias that assumes the world is fair and people get
what they deserve. Dee blames the victims for their burglary, believing they "asked for it" by not locking
their doors—a classic example of just-world thinking that helps people feel safe by believing bad things
only happen to those who deserve them.
7) Dr. Brown is a developmental criminologist. Dr. Brown's research most likely examines
A) demographic features of offenders who participate in burglary.
B) how violent individuals learn their aggressive behavior.
C) the unequal power distribution among members of society.
D) when robberies most frequently occur.
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Developmental criminology examines changes and influences across a person's lifetime that
contribute to antisocial and criminal behavior, including how behaviors are learned and developed.
Examining how violent individuals learn aggressive behavior is a developmental question. Demographic
features, power distribution, and temporal patterns are not developmental in nature.
8) Sara is a 23-year-old, single, college graduate who has just moved into her first apartment. She is
working as a barista at the local coffee house while she considers her career options. Which term best
describes Sara's current life stage?
A) Adolescent-limited
B) Emerging adulthood
C) Life-course persistent
D) Social control
ANSWER: B
Rationale: Emerging adulthood is a developmental stage from roughly ages 18-25 where individuals
explore identity, career options, and relationships before settling into adult roles. Sara, at 23, single,
, recently graduated, and exploring career options, fits this stage. Adolescent-limited refers to a pattern
of offending, not a life stage. Life-course persistent is an offending pattern. Social control is a theory.
9) Positivist theory is to as classical theory is to
A) determinism; free will
B) jurisprudence; behavior
C) cognitions; biology
D) predictability; social norms
ANSWER: A
Rationale: Positivist theory assumes determinism—that behavior is caused by factors beyond individual
control (biological, psychological, social). Classical theory assumes free will—that individuals choose to
commit crimes after weighing costs and benefits. This is the fundamental distinction between the two
schools of criminological thought.
10) Which perspective on crime is most closely linked with the humanistic perspective?
A) Conformity
B) Strain
C) Learning
D) Determinism
ANSWER: A
Rationale: The conformity perspective, associated with social control theory, views humans as born
neutral and subject to developmental changes. It aligns with the humanistic perspective that
emphasizes human potential and choice. Determinism is the opposite of humanistic (which emphasizes
free will). Strain and learning perspectives are more deterministic in nature.
11) Which statement reflects the basic premise of strain theory?
A) Crime occurs when there is a discrepancy between the materialistic values and goals cherished in our
society and the availability of legitimate means for reaching these goals.
B) Crime occurs when a society's values are too materialistic.
C) Crime occurs when society places too much value and emphasis on doing the right thing for the
highest number of individuals.
D) Crime occurs when one's level of stress outweighs one's coping mechanisms.
ANSWER: A
