5.3 Theories of Crime

• Crime refers to acts that break formal laws
• What do twin studies suggest about genetic factors and crime?

  Genes influence criminal behavior
• Lower serotonin levels and increased dopamine levels are linked to antisocial behavior.


  True
• Crime breaks formal laws, while deviance deviates from social norms
• Match the biological theory with its key concept:

  Genetic Factors ↔️ Genes influence predisposition to crime

  Brain Structure ↔️ Prefrontal cortex affects impulsivity

  Neurotransmitters ↔️ Imbalances correlate with aggression

  Hormones ↔️ Testosterone levels affect aggression
• What are common personality traits associated with criminal behavior according to Personality Theory?

  Impulsivity, low empathy
• Functionalism argues that crime reinforces social boundaries and promotes social change
• The collective conscience refers to shared norms and values that guide behavior in society.


  True
• What are social control mechanisms used to maintain social order?

  Law enforcement, social disapproval
• Crime and deviance are both types of behaviors that violate social norms
• What are social control mechanisms used for?

  Regulating social order
• What do biological theories of crime suggest?

  Genetic predispositions to crime
• Brain scans reveal structural abnormalities in criminals.


  True
• Social learning theory argues that criminal behavior is learned through observation and imitation
• What personality traits are linked to criminal behavior according to personality theory?

  Impulsivity, low empathy
• Match the psychological theory with its key concept:

  Social Learning Theory ↔️ Observation and imitation

  Personality Theory ↔️ Impulsivity and low empathy

  Cognitive Theory ↔️ Distorted thinking patterns
• What is the collective conscience in functionalism?

  Shared norms and values
• Marxism argues that capitalism creates economic inequality between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat
• Marxism views society as divided into classes based on wealth and power.


  True
• Interactionism focuses on how individuals interpret and respond to the meanings and symbols
• Symbolic interactionism emphasizes how individuals interpret symbols in social interactions.


  True
• What is the central argument of Labeling Theory within Interactionism?

  Crime results from societal labeling
• Compared to Functionalism and Marxism, Interactionism places greater emphasis on the role of social interactions
• Labeling Theory argues that crime is an inherent quality of an act.

  False
• What is the self-fulfilling prophecy in Labeling Theory?

  Adopting a deviant identity
• Biological theories provide a strong basis for understanding genetic and physical predispositions
• Match the sociological theory with its limitation:

  Interactionism ↔️ Overlooks structural factors

  Marxism ↔️ May overemphasize economic factors

  Functionalism ↔️ Underestimates individual agency
• Lower serotonin levels are linked to impulsive and aggressive behaviors.

  True
• What does Social Learning Theory suggest about criminal behavior?

  It is learned through observation
• Cognitive Theory focuses on thought processes and biased decision-making
• What does Cognitive Theory focus on in explaining criminal behavior?

  Thought processes and decision-making
• Sociological theories of crime examine how social structures and interactions shape criminal behavior.


  True
• Match the biological theory with its key concept:

  Genetic Factors ↔️ Genes influencing predisposition

  Brain Structure ↔️ Prefrontal cortex affecting impulsivity

  Neurotransmitters ↔️ Imbalances correlating with aggression

  Hormones ↔️ Testosterone affecting aggression
• Psychological theories examine how individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contribute to criminal behavior.

  True
• What personality traits are suggested by Personality Theory to predispose individuals to criminal behavior?

  Impulsivity, low empathy, antisocial tendencies
• Sociological theories examine how social structures, institutions, and interactions shape criminal behavior.


  True
• Brain scans of criminals often reveal structural and functional abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex
• Studies show higher testosterone levels in violent offenders.


  True
• Social norms are unwritten rules that dictate appropriate behavior within a society.

  True
• Brain scans reveal structural and functional abnormalities in criminals' brains