Chapter 3: Causes of Terrorist Violence

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following has been used to identify social conditions that affect from access to services, equal rights, civil protections, freedom, or other quality of life measured?

a. structural theory

b. relative deprivation theory

c. anomie theory

d. differential associate theory

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. ______ takes place when a group has been deprived of the basic necessities for survival by a government or social order.

a. Relative deprivation

b. Absolute deprivation

c. Anomie

d. Differential association

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The concept of “codes of self-sacrifice” is useful for understanding ______.

a. why extremists behave as they do

b. justifications for terrorist violence

c. the effects of ideology and indoctrination on motivating people to engage in political violence

d. all of these

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Codes of Self-Sacrifice

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. What was the influence of Mao Zedong’s theories on how modern warfare was waged in the developing world?

a. Indigenous fighters fought in the same manner as European and American armies.

b. Indigenous fighters adopted the strategy of “hit and run” warfare.

c. Indigenous fighters melded ideological indoctrination to their warfighting strategy.

d. both “indigenous fighters adopted the strategy of ‘hit and run’ warfare” and “indigenous fighters melded ideological indoctrination to their warfighting strategy”.

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Making Revolution: Acts of Political Will

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. The theory of the Stockholm Syndrome is used to describe terrorist tendencies within which explanatory discipline?

a. sociological explanations of terrorism

b. criminological explanations of terrorism

c. psychological explanations of terrorism

d. physiological explanations of terrorism

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group-and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Case: The Stockholm Syndrome

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Structural theory is used to describe terrorist tendencies within which explanatory discipline?

a. sociological explanations of terrorism

b. criminological explanations of terrorism

c. psychological explanations of terrorism

d. physiological explanations of terrorism

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Differential association theory is used to describe terrorist tendencies within which explanatory discipline?

a. sociological explanations of terrorism

b. criminological explanations of terrorism

c. psychological explanations of terrorism

d. physiological explanations of terrorism

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Differential Association Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. One reason that Western democracies regularly denounce political violence because ______.

a. there are more conventional reasons for using political violence

b. political violence is a dishonorable practice

c. it is often directed against the West by adversaries

d. it is immoral behavior

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Perception and Cultural Disconnect: Adversaries in the War on Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Which of the following explanations of terrorist behavior use theories of individual motivations and group dynamics to explain why people decide to adopt strategies of political violence and why groups continue campaigns of violence.

a. social

b. criminal

c. psychological

d. biological

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group-and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Generalized Psychological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Which of the following theories has been criticized for relying on variables that are difficult to operationalize?

a. anomie theory

b. strain theory

c. differential association theory

d. relative deprivation theory

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Differential Association Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. The application of ______ focused on the availability of goals and means.

a. anomie theory

b. strain theory

c. differential association theory

d. relative deprivation theory

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Anomie and Strain Theories

Difficulty Level: Easy

12. Which of the following theories posits that political extremism and criminal behavior require the convergence of three societal elements?

a. relative deprivation theory

b. differential association theory

c. routine activities theory

d. anomie theory

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Routine Activity Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Which of the following theories stems from the concept of anomie?

a. differential association theory

b. routine activities theory

c. relative deprivation theory

d. strain theory

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Anomie and Strain Theories

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. An effort to force chance is referred to as ______.

a. a rational decision

b. an act of political will

c. an act of free will

d. an irrational decision

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Making Revolution: Acts of Political Will

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. When considering mental illness as an explanation for acts of terrorism, psychologists ______.

a. have discovered that many acts of terrorism, if not most, are explainable as the result of mental illness

b. report that studies of former terrorists indicate a consistent pattern of psychological disorders

c. generally conclude that some terrorists may have problematic psychological conditions, but mental illness is not a primary explanation for terrorist violence

d. both “have discovered that many acts of terrorism, if not most, are explainable as the result of mental illness” and “report that studies of former terrorists indicate a consistent pattern of psychological disorders”

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group-and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Psychological Explanations of Terrorism: Rationality and Terrorist Violence

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. When considering sociological explanations for acts of terrorism, sociologists ______.

a. have discovered that many acts of terrorism, if not most, are explainable as the result of individuals who live at the margins of society

b. report that structural conditions such as deprivation may explain why many individuals choose to engage in political violence

c. generally conclude that some terrorists are politically idealistic marginal individuals

d. both “report that structural conditions such as deprivation may explain why many individuals choose to engage in political violence” and “generally conclude that some terrorists are politically idealistic marginal individuals”

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. Extremists and terrorists ______.

a. practice a sense of complex morality

b. have no moral scruples

c. practice a sense of simplified morality

d. have a great deal of moral scruples

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Simplified Definitions of Good and Evil

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. All of the following were identified as elements of routine activities theory except for ______.

a. a steady supply of motivated offenders

b. the ready availability of attractive victims and targets of opportunity

c. the availability of weapons

d. the presence, or lack thereof, of social guardians

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Routine Activities Theory

Difficulty Level: Medium

19. The peoples war strategy was first developed and applied to the ______ revolution.

a. French

b. American

c. Spanish

d. Chinese

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Making Revolution: Acts of Political Will

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. All of the following were identified as motives except for ______.

a. moral convictions of terrorists

b. complex definitions of good and evil

c. seeking utopia

d. codes of self-sacrifice

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Moral Justifications for Political Violence

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. Anomie focuses on the availability of goals and means.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Anomie and Strain Theories

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Strain is manifested as a desire to achieve goals, and one’s inability to acquire the legitimate means to attain them.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Anomie and Strain Theories

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Psychologists have discovered that many acts of terrorism, if not most, are explainable as the result of mental illness.

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group-and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Psychological Explanations of Terrorism: Rationality and Terrorist Violence

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. According to routine activities theory, political extremism and criminal behavior require the convergence of various elements.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Routine Activities Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Codes of self-sacrifice are used to justify extreme violence.

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Codes pf Self-Sacrifice

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Morality is simplified by terrorists.

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Simplified Definitions of Good and Evil

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Social movements are campaigns that try either to promote change or to preserve something that is perceived as threatened.

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Causes of Terrorist Violence

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Women are not been properly represented in extremist movements and organizations.

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Radical Criminology

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Relative deprivation takes place when a group has been deprived of the basic necessities for survival by a government or social order.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Differential association is a process of individual learning.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Differential Association Theory

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. Why is political violence frequently denounced by Western democracies as “terrorism?”

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Perception and Cultural Disconnect: Adversaries in the War on Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Identify the broad causes of terrorism.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Causes of Terrorist Violence

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Discuss structural theory.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Theoretical Foundations for Sociological Explanations

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Identify one to two psychological explanations of terrorism.

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Psychological Explanations of Terrorism: Rationality and Terrorist Violence

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Discuss the Stockholm Syndrome case.

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group- and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Case: The Stockholm Syndrome

Difficulty Level: Easy

Essay

1. Discuss the morality of political violence. Is such violence always immoral? Is it ever justifiable? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Moral Justifications for Political Violence

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What are codes of self-sacrifice and how are these moral justifications.

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Codes of Self-Sacrifice

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. What is utopia and what kinds of utopia do you believe terrorists seek?

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Seeking Utopia

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What is the role of “codes of self-sacrifice”? Why is this concept so central to our understanding of why violent extremists do what they do?

Learning Objective: 3-5: Interpret justifications for political violence, as reported by extremists, within the context of moral reasoning.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Codes of Self-Sacrifice

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Why did Cold War revolutionaries and other dissidents use what many would define as terrorism in their rebellions? What was the influence of Mao Zedong in this regard? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 3-1: Demonstrate the ability to interpret revolutionary ideologies and cultural factors to assess whether the use of political violence is a strategic choice.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Making Revolution: Acts of Political Will

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Critique psychological explanations of terrorism. Do they adequately explain the causes of political violence? If so, how so? If not, how not?

Learning Objective: 3-4: Apply psychological theories of group-and individual-level dynamics to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Psychological Explanations of Terrorism: Rationality and Political Violence

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. Critique sociological explanations of terrorism. Do they adequately explain the causes of political violence? If so, how so? If not, how not?

Learning Objective: 3-2: Apply sociological theories of intergroup conflict and collective violence to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Sociological Explanations of Terrorism: Intergroup Conflict and Collective Violence

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Critique criminological explanations of terrorism. Do they adequately explain the causes of political violence? If so, how so? If not, how not?

Learning Objective: 3-3: Apply criminological theories of criminality to posit explanations for political violence.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Criminological Explanations of Terrorism: The Path to Political Criminality

Difficulty Level: Hard