Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
True/False
1. Developmental theories are explanatory models of criminal behavior that
follow individuals throughout their life course of offending, thus explaining the
development of offending over time.
2. Virtually all studies on the life-course/developmental perspective show that
most individuals who get arrested are never arrested again.
3. Offender frequency is referred to as lambda.
4. The general theory of crime assumes that self-control must be established by
age 13.
5. Sampson and Laub emphasized the importance of certain events and life
changes that can alter an individual’s decisions to commit (or not commit)
criminal actions.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
6. Transitions are specific events such as marriage or stable employment that
can be important in altering long-term trends in behavior.
7. Life-course persistent offenders are estimated to account for 4% to 8% of all
offenders—albeit the most violent and chronic offenders.
8. Onset refers to when the criminal career of an individual ends and he or she
opts out of offending.
9. A great example of persistence in offending is represented by the story of a
41-year-old man named Kevin Holder in Lincoln, Nebraska, who has been
arrested 226 times.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
10. Early onset offending is one of the most important predictors of any of the
measures for determining who is most at risk for developing serious, violent
offending behavior.
11. Thornberry’s model puts the level of attachment and commitment to
conventional society ahead of the degree of moral beliefs that individuals hold
regarding criminal offending.
12. Inadvertent exposure to toxins, such as lead, has no causal connection to
persistent criminality.
13. Studies have shown that universal preschool leads to better performance,
both academically and socially, once children enter school.
14. Developmental theories suggest the teenage years of life are likely the most
important in determining whether an individual will engage or not engage in
criminal activity throughout life.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
15. The text states that there are very few policy implications that can be derived
from developmental theories of criminality.
16. Transitions are nonspecific, longitudinal patterns of behavior either toward or
away from committing crime.
17. Research has shown that marriage and full-time employment can significantly
reduce recidivism.
18. The life-course approach places a special emphasis on looking at changes
(or lack thereof) in the trajectories of large groups and their tendency to engage
in criminal behavior.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
19. Although most people arrested as youths do not reoffend, for those who do,
the offenses tend to start out as serious felonies, and then the crimes tend to
lessen in severity.
20. There is no consensus among experts regarding the cut-off age for early
onset.
21. Low Self-Control theory assumes that individuals are born predisposed
toward selfish, self-centered activities and that only effective child rearing and
socialization can create self-control.
22. Life-course theory solely looks at an individual offender’s personality traits,
including risk taking, impulsiveness, self-centeredness, short-term orientation,
and quick temper.
23. Life course persistent offenders make up a minority of the population.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
24. Thornberry’s most important claim was that social learning and social control
theories had no relevance.
25. Most experts contend that it is difficult to derive any policy implications from
life-course or developmental theories.
Essay
1. What is the general theory of crime proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi?
2. What is the “chicken–or–egg” debate presented by Thornberry?
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
3. List three of the five primary theoretical constructs of Thornberry’s interactional
model.
4. Why does the text state that policies emphasizing the prenatal and perinatal
stages of life are the most important?
5. Discuss three policies your text discusses that can help reduce criminality
according to the theories in this chapter.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
6. Give one reason why the Glueck Harvard study conducted on 1,000 boys may
have some methodological issues?
7. What are the two types of offenders explained in Moffitt’s developmental
theory or taxonomy? Explain how they differ and how this taxonomy is
considered developmental theory.
8. Explain how the general theory of crime established by Gottfredson and
Hirschi explains serial killers and how they differ (or not) from the average
criminal (e.g., a burglar).
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
9. Describe adolescence-limited offenders and provide an example.
10. Explain the self-selection versus social learning debate as related to
Thornberry’s interactional model.
11. What is the difference between transitions and trajectories, and how do these
relate to the developmental model proposed by Sampson and Laub?
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021
12. How can you relate Sampson and Laub’s transitions and trajectories to a
reformed prisoner pleading for parole?
13. Why does the text state that more can be learned from looking at the years
prior to the age of 12 as compared to the teenage or young adult years?
14. Explain how an individual’s siblings or peers can decrease their likelihood for
delinquency.
15. Define developmental theory.
Schram, Introduction to Criminology 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2021