Practice Exam: Sociology of Crimes & Ethics - Classical & Positivist Theories (Set 27)
A 30-question practice exam covering criminological theories from the Classical and Positivist schools of thought.
1. Which of the following is the core principle of the Classical School of Criminology?
A.Criminal behavior is a result of biological and hereditary factors.
B.Individuals are rational beings who choose to commit crimes based on a pleasure/pain calculation.
C.Crime is a social phenomenon learned through association with others.
D.The legal system should be based on the rehabilitation of the offender.
2. Cesare Beccaria, in his essay "On Crimes and Punishments," argued for which principle of justice?
A.The punishment should be severe enough to create terror in other potential offenders.
B.The purpose of punishment is retribution for the harm done to society.
C.The punishment should be swift, certain, and proportionate to the crime committed.
D.Judges should have wide discretion in determining the appropriate punishment.
3. What is the "hedonistic calculus" as proposed by Jeremy Bentham?
A.A method for determining a criminal's biological predisposition to crime.
B.A system for classifying different types of criminal offenders.
C.A belief that individuals calculate the degree of pleasure or pain that a specific action will cause.
D.A legal doctrine that prioritizes the rights of the accused above all else.
4. The Positivist School of Criminology shifted the focus of study from the crime itself to the:
A.Social structure and economic conditions.
B.Effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
C.Criminal offender and the causes of their behavior.
D.Nature of law and its application.
5. Cesare Lombroso's theory of the "born criminal" is primarily based on which concept?
A.Social learning
B.Atavism
C.Psychoanalytic conflict
D.Economic determinism
6. According to Lombroso, what are "stigmata"?
A.Scars or marks obtained during the commission of a crime.
B.Tattoos associated with prison gangs.
C.Physical anomalies that he believed were indicators of a primitive or atavistic nature.
D.Social labels that marginalize individuals and push them toward crime.
7. Which theorist is credited with developing the theory of "somatotyping," which links body type to temperament and criminality?
A.Enrico Ferri
B.Raffaele Garofalo
C.William Sheldon
D.Charles Goring
8. An individual who is muscular, assertive, and action-oriented would be classified as what somatotype according to Sheldon?
A.Ectomorph
B.Endomorph
C.Mesomorph
D.Atavistic
9. The Neo-classical School of Criminology modified the pure rational choice model of the Classical School by acknowledging that certain factors can inhibit the exercise of free will. Which of the following is an example of such a factor?
A.Low social status
B.Insanity or mental illness
C.Lack of educational opportunity
D.Peer pressure
10. Which of the following best defines "natural crimes" as conceptualized by Raffaele Garofalo?
A.Acts that are only criminal because they are prohibited by law.
B.Acts that violate the fundamental moral sentiments of pity and probity.
C.Crimes committed by individuals in a state of nature, without a government.
D.Offenses against the environment and natural resources.
11. Enrico Ferri, a prominent positivist, expanded Lombroso's work by emphasizing the importance of which factors in causing crime?
A.Classical and Neo-classical principles.
B.The swiftness and certainty of punishment.
C.Social, economic, and political factors.
D.The structure of the criminal justice system.
12. Deterrence theory, which is a modern extension of Classical principles, distinguishes between two types of deterrence. What are they?
A.Active and passive deterrence
B.Primary and secondary deterrence
C.General and specific deterrence
D.Individual and societal deterrence
13. The idea that punishment should be just severe enough to outweigh the pleasure or benefit derived from the crime is most closely associated with:
A.Cesare Lombroso's criminal anthropology.
B.Jeremy Bentham's principle of utility.
C.Enrico Ferri's law of criminal saturation.
D.Raffaele Garofalo's concept of moral anomaly.
14. A key difference between the Classical and Positivist schools is their view on punishment. The Classical school advocates for punishment based on ________, while the Positivist school advocates for treatment based on ________.
A.The offender's background; the nature of the crime
B.The crime committed; the individual offender's characteristics
C.Social necessity; divine right
D.Retribution; rehabilitation only
15. The scientific study of the physical attributes of offenders and their supposed relationship to criminal behavior is known as:
A.Phrenology
B.Criminal Anthropology
C.Somatotyping
D.Physiognomy
16. Rational Choice Theory, a modern descendant of the Classical School, views crime as:
A.An irrational outburst of deep-seated psychological issues.
B.A product of a deterministic biological makeup.
C.A decision-making process in which the offender evaluates the potential costs and benefits.
D.A result of societal breakdown and anomie.
17. Which school of thought first introduced the concept of mitigating circumstances, such as age or mental capacity, into the administration of criminal justice?
A.The Positive School
B.The Chicago School
C.The Neo-classical School
D.The Classical School
18. According to Positivist thinkers like Ferri, if crime is caused by factors beyond an individual's control, what is the logical implication for the concept of "mens rea" or criminal intent?
A.It becomes the most important element of a crime.
B.It is the sole factor determining the length of a sentence.
C.It becomes irrelevant, as the person did not freely "choose" to be a criminal.
D.It can only be determined through psychoanalysis.
19. A judge sentences a thief to a long prison term not only to punish the individual but also to send a message to the community that theft will not be tolerated. This is a clear example of:
A.Specific deterrence
B.General deterrence
C.Incapacitation
D.Rehabilitation
20. The Positivist school is often criticized for its potential to lead to what kind of justice system policies?
A.Overly lenient and permissive sentencing.
B.A focus on victim's rights above all else.
C.Policies that could involve discrimination and loss of civil liberties based on supposed biological or psychological traits.
D.A complete dismantling of prisons in favor of community corrections.
21. Which statement best summarizes the main contribution of the Classical School to criminology?
A.It provided the first scientific explanation for criminal behavior.
B.It established the first rational and systematic legal framework for crime and punishment.
C.It identified the root causes of crime in social inequality.
D.It developed effective rehabilitation programs for offenders.
22. "The born criminal, the insane criminal, and the criminaloid." This classification of offenders was proposed by:
A.Jeremy Bentham
B.Enrico Ferri
C.Cesare Lombroso
D.Raffaele Garofalo
23. The principle of "proportionality" in the Classical School means:
A.The punishment should be proportional to the offender's wealth.
B.The punishment should be decided by a jury of the offender's peers.
C.The severity of the punishment should match the severity of the crime.
D.The punishment should be proportional to the public's outrage.
24. Psychological Positivism seeks the cause of crime within an individual's:
A.Social environment
B.Economic status
C.Personality, learning processes, and mental state
D.Body type and genetics
25. Charles Goring's study, "The English Convict," was a significant challenge to Lombroso's theories because it found:
A.That criminals were, on average, more intelligent than non-criminals.
B.That social factors like poverty were the only cause of crime.
C.No significant physical differences between criminals and non-criminals, except for height and weight.
D.That Lombroso's "stigmata" were actually signs of genius.
26. A theory arguing that crime rates are influenced by the availability of suitable targets, the absence of capable guardians, and the presence of motivated offenders is an evolution of which school's principles?
A.Positivist School
B.Classical School
C.Chicago School
D.Conflict School
27. The Positivist method of inquiry in criminology is known as:
A.Jurisprudence
B.The scientific method (determinism)
C.Introspection
D.Textual criticism
28. If a theorist believes that criminals are "morally less developed" than non-criminals and require treatment to develop a sense of right and wrong, their view aligns with:
A.Classical Deterrence Theory
B.Psychological Positivism
C.Biological Positivism
D.Sociological Positivism
29. The main objective of punishment, according to the Classical School, is:
A.Retribution
B.Rehabilitation
C.Deterrence
D.Incapacitation
30. Which of the following is a key legacy of the Positivist School on the modern criminal justice system?
A.The right to a speedy and public trial.
B.The introduction of the pre-sentence investigation report and indeterminate sentencing.
C.The principle of "innocent until proven guilty."
D.The abolition of cruel and unusual punishment.