Early Theories of Criminology
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Questions and Answers

What is necessary for punishment to be an effective deterrent to crime?

  • It should be severe enough to instill fear.
  • It needs to be publicized widely.
  • It should be accompanied by rehabilitation programs.
  • It must occur immediately after the crime. (correct)

    • Which reform was NOT part of the contributions of the Classical School to criminal law?

  • Guarantee of one's rights.
  • Establishment of fixed penalties.
  • Flexible sentencing based on individual circumstances. (correct)
  • Equality before the law.

    • What limitation of the Classical School relates to sentencing?

  • Judges had complete discretion in all cases.
  • Penalties were not enforced uniformly.
  • Sentences could be individualized based on wealth.
  • Equal punishments did not consider the offender's circumstances. (correct)

    • Which of these statements reflects a belief of the Classical School regarding law?

    <p>Laws must be accessible and understandable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of judicial and legislative roles was emphasized by the Classical School?

    <p>There should be a separation between lawmaking and judicial functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which body type is associated with an easygoing personality?

    <p>Endomorph</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What personality trait is linked to mesomorphs?

    <p>Aggressive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the conclusion of Goddard's research regarding prisoners' IQs?

    <p>Most prisoners had a mental age of 12 or below.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which movement was influenced by the idea that criminality could be inherited?

    <p>Eugenics Movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criticism has emerged regarding IQ tests?

    <p>They may exhibit cultural bias.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What statement reflects the strength of evidence linking biological deficiencies to criminal behavior?

    <p>Evidence is weak and inconsistent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What danger is associated with assuming biological differences between groups?

    <p>It may justify differential treatment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which belief system characterized early theories of crime?

    <p>Superstition and religious beliefs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant reason the theories were accepted at the time?

    <p>They blamed the individual rather than society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used for criminals who were viewed as less evolved according to Lombroso's theories?

    <p>Atavists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of offender did Lombroso classify as having committed crimes for 'noble and powerful' motives?

    <p>Criminals of passion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What flaw was associated with Lombroso's scientific methodology?

    <p>Comparison groups were chosen unsystematically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Lombroso perceive women in relation to crime?

    <p>They were less criminal due to maternal instincts and piety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following categories did Lombroso NOT include as types of offenders?

    <p>Politically motivated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Lombroso's view, which feature was observed in robbers?

    <p>Small, quick-moving eyes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic was generally NOT associated with Lombroso's view of criminals?

    <p>Criminal behavior linked directly to societal conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Lombroso propose regarding punishment in the criminal justice system?

    <p>Punishment should vary based on the criminal's behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Dr. Charles Goring, what did he identify as a key trait among criminals?

    <p>Mental inferiority as the most important genetically transmitted trait.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic did Hooton find that differentiated criminals from non-criminals?

    <p>Physical and social inferiority.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Hooton advocate for based on his findings?

    <p>Segregation of individuals identified as unfit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What flaw was noted in Goring's research methodology?

    <p>He selected criminals exclusively from prison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory did Sheldon develop in the 1950s?

    <p>Somatotype theory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Lombroso suggest about 'born criminals'?

    <p>They should be treated leniently as they can't control their behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic was NOT mentioned by Hooton as a stigmata of criminals?

    <p>Tall stature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a primary goal of Neoclassical criminologists regarding the justice system?

    <p>Introduce more flexibility in the penal system.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors did Neoclassical criminologists consider when individualizing sentences?

    <p>Offender characteristics such as age and socio-economic status.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Statistical School primarily use to explore social issues related to crime?

    <p>Statistics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the Statistical School, what is the main cause of criminal behavior?

    <p>Natural causes discoverable through scientific methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did scholars of the Statistical School believe about crime patterns over time and space?

    <p>They reflected underlying social forces.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant belief of the Positive School regarding the causes of crime?

    <p>Biological factors beyond individual control contribute to criminality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method did the Positive School use to compare criminals and noncriminals?

    <p>Controlled observation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the work of the Statistical School specifically focus on regarding society?

    <p>Structural features and inequalities within society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the primary inspirations for crime theories prior to the 18th century?

    <p>Religious beliefs and superstition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements reflects the Judeo-Christian perspective on sinful behavior?

    <p>Believers can resist the Devil through faith and free will.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one key criticism of the Classical School of criminology?

    <p>It failed to consider biological factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the two explanations for the role of evil spirits in sinful behavior according to Judeo-Christian teachings?

    <p>Temptation and possession</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Positive School differ from the Classical School in its approach to crime?

    <p>It sought biological causes of criminality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a fundamental belief about human behavior before the 18th century?

    <p>Any pathology in behavior is attributed to evil spirits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact did the Classical School have on the legal system?

    <p>It introduced the concept of deterrence in criminal law.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In relation to criminality, what is the Positive School's main focus?

    <p>Biological causes of crime</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Early Theories of Criminology

    • Theories prior to the 18th century were rooted in religious beliefs and superstition, attributing criminal behaviour to evil spirits and magic.
    • Individuals were often subjected to harsh punishments, including torture, to rid them of demonic influences.
    • Religious and political elites used the concept of evil spirits as a means to silence rebellions and divert attention from societal problems.
    • Early 18th century explanations for criminal behaviour changed.
    • The scientific revolution during the Enlightenment brought a shift in thought, focusing on systematic doubt and empirical verification of ideas.
    • Ideas shifted away from religious superstition to naturalistic explanations based on reason and the scientific method, prompting a more scientific approach to understanding crime and criminal behaviour.
    • Enlightenment philosophers viewed society as composed of free and rational human beings, leading to calls for individual rights and freedoms.
    • People agreed to a social contract with the state to give up some freedom for a safer society, and the state agreed to provide security without violating individual rights.

    The Classical School

    • The Classical School was the first formal school of criminology, linked with 18th- and early 19th-century legal and prison system reforms.
    • Cesare Beccaria's Essay on Crime and Punishments (1764) summarized contemporary ideas, critically assessing the cruelty and arbitrariness of the justice system's punishments, which reached 350 offences being punishable by death in 18th-century England.
    • Beccaria's work focused on humanitarian reform in Europe, and helped to guide the movement for reforms in the justice system.
    • Classical Theory proposes that people voluntarily enter into a social contract with the state, giving up some freedom for a safer society, where the state provides security without violating citizens rights. Citizens must obey laws or face punishment
    • The theory assumes people are rational actors calculating consequences before committing crime.
    • Punishment is necessary but needs to fit the crime. It should be proportional to the harm caused, not excessive, swift and certain to deter crime, to maintain order within the social contract.

    The Classical Theory of Crime (Specific Reforms)

    • Legal reforms included eliminating executions for minor offenses, making laws accessible to everyone, clearly defining laws and making the lawmaking power separate from the role of judges.
    • The Classical School's reforms established the foundations for a progressive criminal justice system in Canada, including equality before the law, guaranteeing rights, fixed penalties, due process safeguards, and separating judicial and legislative systems.

    Limitations of the Classical School

    • Equal punishments for the same crime did not allow for flexibility. Personal characteristics / circumstances of offenders could not be considered, and judges did not have the discretion to individualize or adjust sentences to specific circumstances (e.g., social class or mental health).

    Neoclassical Theory

    • Neoclassical criminologists aimed to integrate flexibility into the justice system, recognizing offender characteristics like age, socio-economic status, mitigating circumstances (e.g., mental competence), and motive, in sentencing decisions.
    • Judges were given greater discretion in sentencing.

    The Statistical School: Social Structure and Crime

    • The Statistical School emerged in the first half of the 19th century, using statistics to study social issues and pursuing structural explanations for crime.
    • The school viewed crime as the result of social forces, such as inequalities in resources and opportunities.
    • Scholars' data collection identified regularities in crime over time and space and linked those to factors like population density, education and poverty, anticipated the later work of sociologists.
    • The theory rejected the idea of free will and rational choice. Crime is influenced by social structural factors.

    Lombroso and the Positive School

    • The Positive School used the scientific method to compare criminals and non-criminals, emphasizing the role of biological factors beyond a person's free will, in causing crime.
    • Lombroso, a founder of the Positive School, applied Darwin’s evolutionary theory to crime, classifying criminals as “atavists” (less evolved, morally inferior humans) based on physical features such as their physical traits and “stigmata”.
    • Different categories of criminals existed, like epileptics, criminals of passion, and “criminaloids”

    The Contribution of the Positive School

    • Lombroso's work influenced the criminal justice system by shifting toward the notion of considering different treatments within the justice system.
    • Lombroso believed criminals, with some exceptions, should be incarcerated as a protection to society, but treated leniently as they had no control over their behaviour.
    • Positive School influenced factors like probation, parole, and indeterminate sentences. It suggested the need for mitigating circumstances to be consider in sentencing, and to understand the specific reasons for a criminal behaviour, to help the criminal justice understanding of crime better.

    Biological Theories in the Early Twentieth Century

    • The early 20th century saw research into crime and physical characteristics, and the role of intelligence.
    • Researchers like Goring and Hooton examined the physical characteristics of criminals, like their mental intelligence.
    • Some theories suggested physical traits or mental inferiorities could predispose individuals to committing crime.

    Crime and Intelligence

    • Goddard's work suggested feeble-mindedness was inherited and linked to criminality.
    • He found most prisoners had below 12-year-old mental age IQs from crime, but this was criticized for a lack of social context consideration.
    • Despite poor research, the eugenics movement influenced sterilization in the US and Canada.
    • Current research does not universally support a direct link between biological or intellectual deficiency and criminal behavior. Researchers must be careful in using those concepts as an explanation in groups of people.

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    Early Theories Of Criminology PDF

    Description

    Explore the evolution of criminological theories from religious beliefs and superstition to scientific reasoning. This quiz covers historical perspectives that shaped the understanding of criminal behavior and the impact of the Enlightenment on criminology. Test your knowledge on how early explanations transitioned towards more rational and empirical approaches.

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