Which concept explains that people who choose to immigrate may be especially motivated, hardworking, or less likely to commit crime?

• A. Revitalization hypothesis
• B. Self-selection
• C. Acculturation effect
• D. Strain theory

Answer: (B)

Self-selection is the idea that people who choose to immigrate are not a random slice of their home population. Those who migrate tend to be more motivated, hardworking, and willing to take risks, so they bring traits associated with productivity and lower propensities for crime into the host country. This selective migration helps explain why immigrants may seem especially diligent and less likely to commit crimes. The other concepts don’t capture this initial filtering by who decides to move: the revitalization hypothesis relates to changes in crime due to urban or neighborhood renewal, the acculturation effect focuses on how immigrants adapt over time, and strain theory explains crime as a response to social pressures rather than who decides to migrate.