PSY 310 Cumulative Risk Model Worksheet
Instructions: Complete PART I and PART II below.
PART I
Instructions: Read through the scenario and respond to the questions below.
Lisa is accused of luring a group of men into a park where they are attacked by a criminal street
gang. She is also a gang member and this is part of her initiation. She had a very strict
upbringing and was physically abused by her older brother and father growing up. At age 13, she
befriended some gang members who let her hang around with them. She started skipping school
and committing petty crimes such as theft and burglary. Her gang got into a fight with a rival
gang and she was injured, requiring stitches and X-rays. A police report was filed, although no
charges were brought against her.
Upon further investigation, you learn that Lisa was enrolled in several honors classes in her
freshman year of high school before she started skipping school to be with her gang. In order to
gain entrance to the honors classes, she was tested by the school psychologist for intelligence
(IQ) and personality traits to determine the best fit for her academically. She had an IQ of 120,
which is highly intelligent. Her personality traits, however, revealed that she was outgoing, quick
to anger, had problems with authority, and charming with her peers. She was sent to the school
counselor to help her with anger management, but only attended three sessions before dropping
out of school.
Using the Criminal Data Guide document and thinking about the cumulative risk model,
respond to the following:
1. What questions would you have asked to find out the information regarding Lisa’s school
history?
How would you describe Lisa as a student?
What tests were used to determine Lisa’s IQ?
How would you describe Lisa’s interactions with other students?
How would you describe Lisa’s group of friends?
Was Lisa ever bullied or bullied any classmates?
Is there a teacher that Lisa did not get along with?
Did Lisa ever appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while in
school?
How many times did Lisa display anger towards others while in school?
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, 2. What other types of information would be important to ask about to further investigate
this case?
Were both of Lisa’s parents involved in her life?
Were there any family members involved with gangs?
Does she still live with her father and Brother after the abuse she endured?
Does she have any other siblings?
How did she meet the gang members?
3. Does Lisa’s IQ play a role in her behavior? Explain using psychological theories to
support your response.
Lisa has a high IQ and according to Hirschi and Hindelang there is a correlation between
IQ and delinquency behavior. For example, a student with a high IQ will perform well in
school and have a more positive attitude and experience regarding school rather than a
student who does not do well in school will intern not want to go. The social changes in
Lisa’s life affected her academics and when she met the gang members, she started to
skip school which left her to go down a more disruptive path.
4. What role does Lisa’s age play in predicting her future criminal behavior? Are there
developmental risk factors involved? Use psychological theories to support your
rationale.
Lisa’s age plays a huge part in how her brain will be developed. According to the
Steinberg’s Dual systems model, the logical reasoning part of the brain is reaching a peak
in development whereas the psychosocial maturity of the brain is far less developed.
“Psychosocial maturity is reflected in such capacities as impulse control, resistance to
This study source was downloaded by 100000843145228 from CourseHero.com on 03-27-2022 21:18:53 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/138477657/PSY-310-Cumulative-Risk-Model-Worksheetdocx/
Instructions: Complete PART I and PART II below.
PART I
Instructions: Read through the scenario and respond to the questions below.
Lisa is accused of luring a group of men into a park where they are attacked by a criminal street
gang. She is also a gang member and this is part of her initiation. She had a very strict
upbringing and was physically abused by her older brother and father growing up. At age 13, she
befriended some gang members who let her hang around with them. She started skipping school
and committing petty crimes such as theft and burglary. Her gang got into a fight with a rival
gang and she was injured, requiring stitches and X-rays. A police report was filed, although no
charges were brought against her.
Upon further investigation, you learn that Lisa was enrolled in several honors classes in her
freshman year of high school before she started skipping school to be with her gang. In order to
gain entrance to the honors classes, she was tested by the school psychologist for intelligence
(IQ) and personality traits to determine the best fit for her academically. She had an IQ of 120,
which is highly intelligent. Her personality traits, however, revealed that she was outgoing, quick
to anger, had problems with authority, and charming with her peers. She was sent to the school
counselor to help her with anger management, but only attended three sessions before dropping
out of school.
Using the Criminal Data Guide document and thinking about the cumulative risk model,
respond to the following:
1. What questions would you have asked to find out the information regarding Lisa’s school
history?
How would you describe Lisa as a student?
What tests were used to determine Lisa’s IQ?
How would you describe Lisa’s interactions with other students?
How would you describe Lisa’s group of friends?
Was Lisa ever bullied or bullied any classmates?
Is there a teacher that Lisa did not get along with?
Did Lisa ever appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while in
school?
How many times did Lisa display anger towards others while in school?
This study source was downloaded by 100000843145228 from CourseHero.com on 03-27-2022 21:18:53 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/138477657/PSY-310-Cumulative-Risk-Model-Worksheetdocx/
, 2. What other types of information would be important to ask about to further investigate
this case?
Were both of Lisa’s parents involved in her life?
Were there any family members involved with gangs?
Does she still live with her father and Brother after the abuse she endured?
Does she have any other siblings?
How did she meet the gang members?
3. Does Lisa’s IQ play a role in her behavior? Explain using psychological theories to
support your response.
Lisa has a high IQ and according to Hirschi and Hindelang there is a correlation between
IQ and delinquency behavior. For example, a student with a high IQ will perform well in
school and have a more positive attitude and experience regarding school rather than a
student who does not do well in school will intern not want to go. The social changes in
Lisa’s life affected her academics and when she met the gang members, she started to
skip school which left her to go down a more disruptive path.
4. What role does Lisa’s age play in predicting her future criminal behavior? Are there
developmental risk factors involved? Use psychological theories to support your
rationale.
Lisa’s age plays a huge part in how her brain will be developed. According to the
Steinberg’s Dual systems model, the logical reasoning part of the brain is reaching a peak
in development whereas the psychosocial maturity of the brain is far less developed.
“Psychosocial maturity is reflected in such capacities as impulse control, resistance to
This study source was downloaded by 100000843145228 from CourseHero.com on 03-27-2022 21:18:53 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/138477657/PSY-310-Cumulative-Risk-Model-Worksheetdocx/
