True / False
1. Until about 40 years ago, crime victims were viewed by criminologists as passive targets who were considered to be
in the “wrong place at the wrong time.”
a. True
b. False
2. Some victims, especially the elderly, the poor, and minority group members, develop a persistent and paralyzing fear
that they will again become victimized.
a. True
b. False
3. Children who are psychologically, sexually, or physically abused are more likely to suffer low self-esteem and be
more suicidal as adults.
a. True
b. False
4. Psychological disorders are prevalent among victims of domestic violence.
a. True
b. False
5. Victims tend to be passive people who rarely become involved in crime themselves.
a. True
b. False
6. Males are more likely than females to be victimized by someone they know.
a. True
b. False
7. Approximately two-thirds of rapes and sexual assaults occur between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
a. True
b. False
8. Schools are the locale of a great deal of victimization because they are populated by a dangerous segment of society,
teenage males.
a. True
b. False
9. The poorest Americans are also the most likely victims of violent and property crimes.
a. True
b. False
10. Males are more likely than females to be the victims of violent crime.
a. True
b. False
11. Households that have experienced victimization in the past are the least likely to experience victimization again in the
future.
a. True
b. False
12. People with high-risk lifestyles have a lower risk of victimization.
a. True
b. False
13. Reconciliation programs are based on the concept of restorative justice.
a. True
b. False
14. State Victims‘ Bills of Rights generally include allowing the victim to be consulted in determining an appropriate
sentence.
a. True
b. False
15. There has been a decline in domestic violence cases during the past decade.
a. True
b. False
16. According to the routing activities theory, teenagers are considered capable guardians.
a. True
b. False
17. Women in college face the risk of sexual assault at a higher rate than women in the general population.
a. True
b. False
18. A way for young males to avoid victimization is to limit their male friends and have more female friends.
a. True
b. False
19. Older, married people are more often targets than younger, single people.
a. True
b. False
20. According to target vulnerability, having attractive possessions may make one vulnerable to predatory crime.
a. True
b. False
Multiple Choice
21. What discovery prompted the scientific study of victims?
a. the discovery that society focuses on the offender’s role in the crime process
b. the discovery that victims play an important role in the crime process
c. the discovery that the crime process is skewed toward offenders
d. the discovery that the crime process is skewed toward victims
22. The long-term stress associated with crime victimization resulting in depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and recurring
nightmares is called
a. post-traumatic stress disorder.
b. disassociation disorder.
c. psychosis anxiety.
d. victimization anxiety.
23. The average cost of a larceny is estimated to be:
a. $100
b. $2,000 c.
$10,000 d.
$200,000
24. The treatment rape survivors receive from legal, medical, and mental health services is sometimes so destructive that
victims cannot help feeling
a. “re-tried”
b. “re-blamed”
c. “re–raped”
d. “re-pained”
25. Some victims, especially , develop a persistent and paralyzing fear that they will be re-victimized.
a. women
b. elderly
c. teenagers
d. property crime victims
26. Being abused or neglected as a child the odds of being arrested, both as a juvenile and as an adult.
a. decreases
b. increases
c. initially increases then decreases
d. does not impact
27. Victims of crime, especially childhood abuse, are more likely to commit crime themselves. This abuse-crime
phenomenon is termed
a. the cycle of abuse.
b. the cycle of crime.
c. the cycle of violence.
d. the cycle of victimization.
28. Referencing the social ecology of victimization, in general, where is a violent crime more likely to take place?
a. in a post office
b. in a school
c. in a private home
d. in a park
29. People living in rural areas have a victimization rate almost than that of city dwellers.
a. 25 percent higher
b. 50 percent higher
c. 25 percent lower
d. 50 percent lower
30. Why are schools the locale of a great deal of victimization?
a. Because schools lack adult supervision during class times.
b. Because schools are populated by teenage males.
c. Because schools lack adult supervision during lunch hours.
d. Because schools are populated by antisocial teens
31. Which of the following households is most vulnerable to crime?
a. a rented urban home in the west
b. an owned rural home in the west
c. a rented suburban home in the east
d. an owned rural home in the east
32. Females are more likely than males to be victims of rape and sexual assault.
a. two times
b. four times
c. six times
d. ten times
33. Gender affects victimization risk. Which of the following is a significant gender difference?
a. Men are less likely to be victims of violent crime.
b. Women are more likely to be victims of robbery.
c. Women are more likely to be victimized by a stranger.
d. Women are more likely to be victimized by someone they know.
34. is significantly related to female violent victimization rates.
a. economic inequality
b. school inequality
c. religious inequality
d. discipline inequality
35. Victim risk diminishes rapidly after age
a. 25
b. 30
c. 35
d. 40
36. The elderly are most often victims of a narrow band of crimes that includes
a. robberies.
b. burglaries.
c. frauds.
d. assaults.
37. Victimization risk is influenced by marital status. Which of the following groups has the lowest rate of victimization?
a. widowers and divorced people
b. widows and widowers
c. widows and single people
d. divorced and single people
38. refers to a victim’s physical weakness or psychological stress that renders them incapable of resisting
or deterring crime.
a. Target vulnerability
b. Group vulnerability
c. Target weakness
d. Vulnerable target
39. Tom has been repeatedly victimized while wearing the home team’s football jersey while sitting on the visiting team’s
side of the football field. What aspect of repeat victimization accounts for Tom’s troubles?
a. target vulnerability
b. target gratifiability
c. target hostility
d. target antagonism
40. Which victimization theory claims that victims may initiate, either actively or passively, the confrontation that leads to
their victimization?
a. victim precipitation theory
b. deviant place theory
c. victim impulsivity theory
d. routine activities theory
41. Research on males and females indicates a strong association between victimization and which personality
characteristic?
a. stubbornness
b. impulsivity
c. tenacity
d. depression
42. What category of victim precipitation occurs when the victim exhibits some personal characteristic that unknowingly
either threatens or encourages the attacker?
a. impulsive precipitation
b. passive precipitation
c. reflexive precipitation
d. active precipitation
43. According to deviant place theory, the greater their exposure to dangerous places, the more likely people will
become victims of crime and violence. Which factor does not characterize a deviant/dangerous place?
a. a highly transient neighborhood
b. a neighborhood with educational and residential properties
c. a poor neighborhood
d. a neighborhood with commercial and residential properties
44. The view that victimization results from the interaction of three everyday factors: the availability of suitable targets,
the absence of capable guardians, and the presences of motivated offenders is called
a. victim precipitation theory.
b. routine activities theory.
c. life–style theory.
d. deviant place theory.
45. According to Cohen and Felson, why did crime rates increase between 1960 and 1980?
a. Because unemployment rose resulting in an increase in motivated offenders.
b. Because the amount of suburban neighborhoods decreased resulting in a population shift to urban
neighborhoods.
c. Because a demographic bulge in the population resulted in an increased number of motivated offenders.
d. Because guardians decreased as a result of increased female participation in the workforce.
46. Victim compensation is financial aid awarded to victims to repay them for loss and injury. Who ordinarily pays
compensation?
a. victim advocates
b. the offender
c. the federal government
d. the state
47. Counselors who help victims to understand the operations of the criminal justice system, who guide victims through
the justice process, and who may provide transportation to and from court are called
a. victim advisors.
b. victim reconcilers.
c. victim advocates.
d. victim compensators.
48. programs assist victims who feel isolated and vulnerable and who are in need of immediate or emergency
services.
a. Crisis support
b. Crisis intervention
c. Victim intervention
d. Victim services
49. Mediated face-to-face encounters between victims and their attackers that are designed to produce restitution
agreements are called
a. recidivist prevention programs.
b. trial diversion programs.
c. victim-offender reconciliation programs.
d. alternative dispute resolution programs.
50. The most controversial element of the victims’ rights movement is the
a. removal of witness protection programs.
b. development of offender registration laws.
c. creation of restitution programs.
d. unconstitutional nature of victim impact statements.
51. According to the research, how many of all U.S. households contain guns?
a. one-tenth
b. one-fourth
c. one-third
d. one-half
52. Surveys reveal that percent of the general public have been victimized by crime at least once in their lives.
a. 25
b. 55
c. 75
d. 95
53. Which victimization theory promotes that victimization risk is related to neighborhood crime rates?
a. victim precipitation
b. lifestyle
c. deviant place
d. routine activities
54. According to the routine activities theory, all of the following are considered a capable guardian EXCEPT:
a. police officers
b. homeowners
c. security systems
d. teenage boys
55. According to routine activities theory which of the following is considered a motivated offender?
a. addict population
b. casual offenders
c. those living in poverty
d. juveniles
56. Beth’s progression from child victim to advocate of victims may best be explained by an increase in her
a. school scholarships
b. income
c. age
d. institutional support
57. Beth conducts a lot of research on children of abuse. According to the published research on children who are
abused, victims are likely to be characterized by all of the following except
a. suffer lower self esteem
b. be more suicidal as adults
c. be abused as adults
d. have successful careers
58. Beth wrote an article about the cycle of which explained that victims of childhood abuse are
more likely to commit crimes themselves.
a. abuse
b. crime
c. rape
d. violence
59. According to the social ecology of victimization, what time of the day were Beth’s attacks more likely to take
place?
a. 8 am to 10 am
b. 12 pm to 2 pm
c. 3 pm to 6 pm
d. 10 pm to 12 pm
60. Beth’s story of victimization coincides with the research on gender and victimization because of
women victims knew or were related to their attacker.
a. 1/3
b. 1/2
c. 2/3
d. 2/5
Christopher is a 17 year old high school senior who is constantly getting into arguments with his mother. She
believes he should have a 9pm curfew and that he should not hang out with certain people in certain
neighborhoods. She is fearful he will become a victim of crime. Christopher believes he is a strong man who
should not have a curfew and can protect himself.
61. According to the lifestyles theory, Christopher should associate with in order to lower his chances of
victimization.
a. athletes
b. boys
c. girls
d. college students
62. Christopher is convinced that if he carries a weapon, he will not be victimized. He is trying to convince his
mother that when he turns 18, he should be allowed to carry a gun. What does the research say about
victimization and carrying a weapon?
a. Males who carried weapons were half as likely to be victimized than those who did not.
b. Males who carried weapons were twice as likely to be victimized than those who did not.
c. Males who carried weapons were three times more likely to be victimized than those who did not.
d. Makes who carried weapons were three times less likely to be victimized than those who did not.
63. Christopher’s mother is convinced there are certain places in their community that are deviant because they
are home to “demoralized people.” All of the following may be considered “demoralized people” EXCEPT:
a. the homeless
b. the drug addicted
c. the mentally ill
d. the middle class
64. One afternoon Christopher is speaking to his friend Johnny on the phone. His mother is secretly listening to
their conversation and realizes that Johnny was robbed at the corner store a few blocks from his house.
Johnny is trying to recruit Christopher to help him retaliate against his attacker. Johnny knows the attacker is a
kid who lives a few blocks away from him. According the deviant place theory, which term best describes the
desire for Johnny to retaliate against his attacker?
a. honor code
b. code of the plyground
c. prison rules
d. street code
65. Christopher’s mother forbids him from allowing friends come over to his house because she does not trust
them. She believes that since they are teenagers they will want to use drugs, drink, and possibly even steal
from her home. Christopher’s mother is classifying teenagers as
a. capable guardians
b. motivated offenders
c. suitable targets
d. suitable offenders
Completion
66. A Victim’s generally includes the right to be present at criminal proceedings.
67. is provided for victims who feel isolated, vulnerable, and in need of immediate services.
68. Financial aid awarded to crime victims is referred to as .
69. Victim theory suggests that crime victims may trigger attacks by acting provocatively.
70. According to routine activities theory, costly jewelry, expensive cars, and easily transportable goods are considered
______.
ANSWER: suitable targets
72. precipitation is aggressive or provocative behavior of victims that results in their victimization.
73. The cycle of is the concept that victims of crime, especially victims of childhood abuse, are more
likely to commit crimes themselves.
74. Criminologists who focus on victims of crime are known as .
75. is the study of the victim’s role in criminal events.
Essay
76. Discuss how criminologists‘ views about the role of victims and criminal behavior have changed over time.
77. Identify and discuss the costs of victimization and the problems that victims experience.
78. Discuss the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on crime victims and explain how PTSD can lead to a
“cycle of violence.”
79. Referencing the social ecology of victimization, when and where is a crime most likely to happen?
ANSWER: Answers will vary.
80. Social and demographic characteristics distinguish victims from non-victims. Discuss gender, age, and marital status
in terms of victimization risk.
81. Does prior victimization enhance or reduce the chances of future victimization? Explain how and/or why.
82. Explain how victim impulsivity is associated with victim precipitation. Why does this personality trait contribute to
victimization risk?
83. Describe how victim advocates and crisis intervention programs assist victims.
84. Every state has a Victim‘s Bill of Rights. What are the general rights legally accorded to victims of crime?
85. Describe the household that is most likely and least likely to be victimized.