CC 210
PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME
WINTER 2013
MID-TERM EXAMINATION – STUDY GUIDE
The exam will cover lectures and readings from the course reader. The readings include:
Homicide Adaptations (Duntley & Buss, 2011)
Frontal Lobe Dysfunction and Aggression (Hawkins & Trobst, 2000)
Bullying and the Peer Group: A Review (Salmivalli, 2010)
Without Conscience or Without Active Conscience (Porter, 1996)
The exam will consist two parts:
PART 1:
PART 2:
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (40 QUESTIONS, 40 MARKS)
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (4 QUESTIONS, 20 MARKS)
TOTAL:
OUT OF 60 MARKS
EXAMINATION DATE: MONDAY, FEB. 11TH, 2013
You will have two hours to complete the mid-term examination (7pm to 9pm) and it will be
worth 30% of your final grade for the course. The mid-term examination will be in the same
classroom as the lectures. You are expected to be familiar with all material covered in the
course up to the mid-term – this includes material from the readings that were not discussed in
the lecture, and vice versa.
There will be 4 written-answer questions on the mid-term examination. These 4 questions will
be taken from the sample of questions provided in this study guide. You may use point-form
when answering the questions, but be certain to fully answer the question. The grade value for
each question will vary.
1
Sample Multiple Choice Questions
1. This term refers to the problematic nature of making individual-level inferences based on
aggregate data.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Cultural Relativism
Individualism
Ecological Fallacy
Reductionism
Myopic focus
2. Phillip Garrido was arrested and charged with the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard in
August 2009. Garrido has a prior history of sex offences and has been described as a sexual
deviant. Explanations of Garrido’s criminal behaviour that focus on his sexual deviance
reflect an:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Assumption of cultural relativism
Assumption of offender deficit
Assumption of criminal amenability
Assumption of discriminating traits
Assumption of affective immunity
3. A major limitation of studying the heritability of criminal behaviour across several
generations of a single family identified in class is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Family members share the same environment
Some family members will drop out of the study
Across generations, evolution will significantly alter family genetics
The accuracy of criminal records may vary with time
Definitions of criminal behaviour may change over time
4. Adoption studies have found that the likelihood of criminal behaviour is highest when:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The biological parents have a history of criminal behaviour
Neither the biological nor the adoptive parents have histories of criminal behaviour
The adoptive parents have a history of criminal behaviour
Children are adopted at a later age
Children are adopted at an earlier age
2
5. Aggressive males may produce more offspring than their less aggressive counterparts.
However, hyper-aggressive males might kill one another over mating opportunities and
produce fewer offspring. In other words, certain levels of aggression might be a better fit in
particular environments. An evolutionary psychologist would refer to this process as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Constitutional vulnerability
Cuckoldry
Sexual selection
Natural selection
Heritability
6. Which of the following concepts might account for the observation that younger mothers
are more likely to commit infanticide than older mothers?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Mate Guarding
Parental Solicitude
Parenting Effort
Mating Effort
Residual Productive Capacity
7. Evolutionary theories of intimate partner violence argue that men have developed
mechanisms to protect against this problem:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Unemployment
Parental-Offspring Conflict
Monogamy
Scarce economic opportunities
Cuckoldry
8. Which of the following evolutionary variables is considered to be a strong predictor of
uroxide?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Age discrepancy between spouses
Physical attractiveness of spouse
Availability of alternate sexual partners
Age of offspring
Number of offspring
3
9. Consistent with evolutionary theories of family violence, a child is at greater risk of being
murdered by their:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Biological father
Stepparent
Biological mother
Siblings
Grandparents
10. According to Homicide Adaptation Theory, human beings possess psychological adaptations
for killing that have evolved because they successfully solved which of the following
adaptive problems?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Eliminating resource-absorbing individuals who are not genetically related
Reputation management
Eliminating genetic relatives who interfere with investments in other vehicles better able
to translate resource investment into genetic fitness
All of the above
Both a and b
11. A term used in genetics to represent the degree to which related pairs of subjects both
show a particular behaviour or condition is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Percentage equivalency
Concretization
Concurrent validity
Concordance
Reciprocal geneticism
12. A major difficulty in drawing conclusions about the relationship between genetics and
criminality from twin studies is that:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Monozygotic twins are overrepresented
It is impossible to distinguish monozygotic and dizygotic twins
Criminal behaviour is exceedingly rare in twins
Most of the twins in these studies are adopted
Most twins are raised together
4
13. The most powerful predictor of uroxide among the variables listed below is:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Financial instability
Sexual infidelity
Inlaws
Both a and c
All of the above
14. The CADS approach to male parenting effort is characterized by low ___________________
and high _____________.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Mating; Parenting
Parenting; Mate-Guarding
Mate-Guarding; Parenting
Parenting; Mating
Romantic interesting; Jealousy
15. According to Cheater Theory, the roots of general antisocial or criminal behaviour stem
from:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Rules of cooperation and reciprocity
Parental solicitude
Male Reproductive Strategies
Sexual jealousy
Cuckoldry
16. Impulsive criminal behaviour and “crimes of passion” may be the result of low
_____________ functioning and excessive ____________________ functioning.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Temporal lobe; Frontal lobe
Prefrontal; Subcoritcal
Frontal lobe; Temporal lobe
Subcorical; Prefrontal
Lateralization; Cerebral
17. The Left Hemisphere Dysfunction Theory argues that violent offenders are less lateralized
for:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Language processes
Social information processing
Spatial processes
Logical processes
Serotonin production
5
18. According to your readings, which of the following is a common symptom or deficit
associated with frontal lobe damage?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Apathy
Emotional lability
Anticipating, planning, and sequencing deficits
Deficiencies in inhibiting behaviour
All of the above
19. Which of the following is NOT true regarding violent behaviour and brain dysfunction?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Violent offenders are less lateralized for language
Violent offenders tend to be right-handed more often than normal adults
Impulsive murderers show lower levels of activation in the pre-frontal
cortex
Violent offenders tend to be left-handed more often than normal adults
Violent murderers show higher levels of activation in subcortical structures
20. According to Prefrontal Dysfunction Theory, criminals exhibit:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Higher prefrontal functioning; Reduced subcortical functioning
Higher sympathetic nervous system functioning; Reduced parasympathetic nervous system
functioning
Reduced prefrontal functioning; Higher subcortical functioning
Reduced sympathetic nervous system functioning; Higher parasympathetic nervous system
functioning
Higher levels of cortisol; Lower levels of testosterone
21. Dichotic Listening Task studies comparing psychopaths and non-psychopaths have shown
that:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Psychopaths show greater recall for stimuli presented to the left ear
Non-psychopaths show greater recall for stimuli presented to the right ear
Psychopaths show greater recall for stimuli presented to the right ear
Both a and b
Both b and c
6
22. On August 1st, 1966, Charles Whitman began a shooting spree from the University of Texas
tower in Austin, Texas, killing 14 people. Post-mortem autopsies of Whitman revealed a
tumour close to the _____________, which plays a key role in emotions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Hippocampus
Right orbitofrontal cortex
Thalamus
Prefrontal cortex
Hypothalamus
23. Excessive levels of this neurotransmitter may result in an overactive or strong Behavioural
Activation System:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Monamine Oxidase
Vasopressin
24. Evolutionary Neuroandrenic Theory draws links between levels of testosterone, aggression
and which type of behaviour?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Status-seeking behaviour
Mate-guarding behaviour
Peer distancing behaviour
Resident-Intruder behaviour
Coercive interactions
25. In a study discussed in class, the winners of a chess tournament exhibited higher levels of
testosterone post-competition than losers. This study best illustrates which of the following
theories?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Reward Dominance Theory
Prefrontal Dysfunction Theory
Cheater Theory
Coercion Theory
Evolutionary Neuroandrenic Theory
7
26. Moffitt argues that Adolescence-Limited delinquents eventually desist from delinquency as
a result of:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The increased availability of prosocial adult roles
Shifting reinforcement contingencies
Human agency
All of the above
Both a and b
27. This style of parenting is associated with punitive and forceful disciplinary tactics with little
love or affection:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Permissive parenting
Authoritarian parenting
Egalitarian parenting
Authoritative parenting
Patriarchal parenting
28. Which of the following is NOT true regarding the relationship between spanking and
antisocial behaviour?
a.
b.
c.
d.
There are no long-term effects associated with the use of spanking
Spanking may be effective for producing short-term compliance
Spanking may be associated with long-term negative effects
Mild forms of spanking may be an effective form of parental control
29. Adolescence-limited delinquents begin engaging in delinquency through:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Peer pressure
An absence of adequate parental supervision
Coercive interactions with parents
Social mimicry of antisocial lifestyles
Antisocial structural turning points
30. Patterson argued that a propensity for lifelong criminal offending was set in motion by:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Neuropsychological complications evident at birth
Negative reinforcement of antisocial behaviours
Structural turning points
All of the above
Both a and b
8
31. A history of abuse as a child and early childhood firesetting would be examples of what type
of risk factor discussed in class?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Cultural Risk Factors
Static Risk Factors
Interpersonal Risk Factors
Sub-generational Risk Factors
Dynamic Risk Factors
32. According to Terrie Moffitt, a developmental psychologist, early antisocial behaviour among
lifecourse persistent offenders likely has its origins in:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Family interactions
Evolutionary mechanisms
Peer interactions
Infant neural development
Academic difficulties
33. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is characterized by which of the following deficits?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Cranio-facial anomalies
Central nervous system impairments
Pre and post-natal growth delays
Both a and c
All of the above
34. In you reading, Bullying and the Peer Group: A Review, bullying is described as an
instrumental form of behaviour designed to:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Reduce subconscious desires to behave aggressively
Balance competing levels of dopamine and serotonin
Promote high levels of reproductive fitness
Increase the self-esteem of the bully
Obtain high social status
35. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of psychopathy?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Lack of empathy
Intense jealousy
Criminal versatility
Failure to accept responsibility
Promiscuous sexual behaviour
9
36. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) measures traits associated with psychopathy on
two scales. ________________ measures Affective/Interpersonal traits, and
___________________ measures behavioural traits associated with a socially deviant
lifestyle.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Axis I; Axis II
Factor 1; Factor 2
Axis II; Axis I
Factor 2; Factor 1
Sub-scale A; Sub-scale B
37. To be diagnosed as a psychopath, an individual must receive which of the following scores
on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
32 or higher
36 or higher
30 or higher
25 or higher
40 or higher
38. As criminal psychopaths reach the ages of 35 to 40 years:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
They show an increase in intimate partner violence
They show a decline in violent criminal behaviour
They show an increase in non-violent criminal behaviour
They begin investing in mutual funds and low-risk bonds
They show a decline in non-violent criminal behaviour
39. The _____________________ psychopath acts purposefully and directly to maximize his
gain or excitement, whereas the ____________________ has the capacity for empathy and
positive emotions, but have “deactivated” their emotional experiences.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Insane; Sane
Reptilian; Mammalian
Late-onset; Early-onset
High-Functioning; Low-Functioning
Primary; Secondary
10
40. The orientation toward high-stimulation or reward-seeking behaviour exhibited by
psychopaths may be due to the functioning of the:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Reticular Activating System
Hippocampus
Peripheral Nervous System
Hypothalamus
Limbic System
11
Short Answer Questions
1. Compare and contrast antisocial and criminal behaviour.
2. Compare and contrast (a) Assumption of Offender Deficit and (b) Assumption of
Discriminating Traits.
3. Select one of the theories list below and: (i) Describe the general argument or premise of
the theory and (ii) Identify and define two concepts associated with the theory.
a. Cheater Theory
b. Prefrontal Dysfunction Theory
c. Environmental Trauma Theory
4. According to Cheater Theory, what is the difference between “dads” and “cads”? How
might a “cads” reproductive strategy be related to antisocial behaviour?
5. Younger mothers are significantly more likely to kill their children than older mothers. Using
Homicide Adaptation Theory and concepts from evolutionary psychology, explain why the
risk for infanticide decreases as mothers get older.
6. Older men married to younger women kill their partners at a higher rate than similarly aged
men married to partners closer to their own age. Using Homicide Adaptation Theory and
concepts from evolutionary psychology, explain why age-discrepancy is a significant
predictor of intimate partner violence.
7. Explain how damage to the frontal lobe may facilitate aggressive or violent behaviour.
8. Based on Left Hemisphere Dysfunction Theory, why might we expect a greater proportion
of criminals to be left-handed?
9. Explain how the Behavioural Activation System (BAS) and the Behavioural Inhibition System
(BIS) contribute to impulsive-aggressive behaviour.
10. Based on the Evolutionary Neuroandrenic Theory, explain the relationship between
testosterone levels, status-seeking behaviours, and aggression.
11. Compare and contrast the major differences between the Adolescent-Limited and the LifeCourse Persistent Offender.
12. Why do adolescence-limited delinquents begin delinquency? In early adulthood why do
adolescence-limited delinquents desist from delinquency?
12
13. What are coercive family interactions and, according to Gerald Patterson, how do they
contribute to persistent criminal behaviour across the life-course?
14. What is psychopathy? Discuss the major categories of symptoms associated with
psychopathy and provide an example for each.
15. How is the criminal behaviour of psychopaths different from the criminal behaviour of nonpsychopaths?
16. Explain how secondary psychopathy develops according to Environmental Trauma Theory.
13
Answer Key for the Multiple Choice Questions
Questions 1 to 10
1–c
2–b
3–a
4–a
5–d
6–e
7–e
8–a
9–b
10 – d
11 – d
12 – e
13 – b
14 – d
15 – c
16 – b
17 – a
18 – e
19 – b
20 – c
Questions 11 to20
21 – b
22 – c
23 – b
24 – a
25 – e
26 – e
27 – b
28 – a
29 – d
30 – b
31 – b
32 – d
33 – e
34 – e
35 – b
36 – b
37 – c
38 – e
39 – e
40 – a
14