Chapter 13 / Violent Crime

Question 1

multi-causal

Answer 1

The notion that an event occurs as a result of more than one factor.

Question 2

dark figure of crime

Answer 2

Refers to the variation between the number of crimes that occur and the number of crimes that are actually reported to the police. This figure highlights the large number of unreported crimes.

Question 3

assault

Answer 3

Applying force on a person, attempting force on a person

Question 4

sexual assault

Answer 4

Unwanted sexual activity, including sexual attacks and sexual touching.

Question 5

robbery

Answer 5

Stealing property from someone, with or without using violence, threats of violence, or a weapon (or imitation of a weapon).

Question 6

spousal violence

Answer 6

Acts including common assault, assault with a weapon, sexual assault, homicide, forcible confinement, uttering threats, criminal harassment, failure to provide the necessities of life, psychological abuse, and financial abuse.

Question 7

correlates

Answer 7

In criminology, factors that are associated with or related to crime.

Question 8

sub-lethal violent victimization

Answer 8

Violent victimization that does not cause death.

Question 9

situational characteristics

Answer 9

Factors associated with an incident; in the case of a violent act, location, weapon type, motive, and the victim - offender relationship are situational characteristics.

Question 10

lethal violence

Answer 10

Violent victimization that causes death.

Question 11

strain theories

Answer 11

Theories that state certain societal stressors (e.g., unequal opportunities to achieve success) increase the likelihood of crime.

Question 12

absolute deprivation

Answer 12

Low income or poverty in and of itself.

Question 13

relative deprivation

Answer 13

The perception of unfair disparity between one’s situation and that of others.

Question 14

intra-racial

Answer 14

Within the same race of people.

Question 15

racialized

Answer 15

The process of marginalizing group of people based on perceived physical and socio-cultural differences.

Question 16

anomie

Answer 16

A term coined by Durkheim to describe periods of lawlessness, normlessness, and unrestrained choice, or a breakdown in social solidarity.

Question 17

hegemonic masculinity

Answer 17

A cultural idealized form of masculinity; in contemporary Western societies, for example, hegemonic masculinity involves displays of autonomy, aggressive individualism, a lack of emotion, normative heterosexuality, and the capacity for violence.

Question 18

spatial inequality

Answer 18

The unequal distribution of resources and services from one area to another.

Question 19

compositional effect

Answer 19

The combination of parts that make up something. In neighborhoods, a compositional affect refers to the aggregate characteristics of individual residents,

Question 20

contextual effect

Answer 20

The influence of environmental factors on human behaviors.

Question 21

social disorganization theory

Answer 21

The theory that a breakdown of the networks, norms, and trust that facilitate coordination among residents of neighborhoods can lead to greater crime and violence.

Question 22

collective efficacy

Answer 22

A group’s shared belief that it can come together and achieve desired goals.