The Vast Majority of Crimes Come to the Attention of the Police

question 110

Multiple Choice

The vast majority of crimes come to the attention of the police in response to citizen complaints. If citizens don't think a crime is serious enough or feel that nothing can be done, they don't usually bother to inform the authorities. This means that there might be serious bias in the:

• A) symbolic interactionist theory of deviance.
• B) way conflict theorists understand deviance.
• C) definition of cash register honesty.
• D) value of punishment for deterrence.
• E) Uniform Crime Report.

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Definitions:

Maladaptiveness

A trait or behavior that is counterproductive to an individual's well-being or ability to meet demands of the environment.

Incompetence

The lack of ability, qualification, or capacity to perform a specified job or task effectively.

Personal Distress

Negative feelings and emotions that an individual experiences as a result of witnessing others in distress.

Dimensional Approach

A method of classifying characteristics or disorders on a spectrum rather than as categorical, binary states.