Enlightenment and Criminal Thought Quiz

Belief that evil spirits or supernatural forces caused criminal behavior.

People believed that unusual events, like natural disasters or illnesses, were caused by evil spirits.

The belief that people possessed by evil spirits were responsible for criminal behavior.

The idea that humans have free will and can choose their behavior, but they are susceptible to temptation by the Devil.

People who committed crimes were seen as weak or morally inferior, unable to resist temptation.

Explanations for crime based on religious beliefs, superstition, and the belief in evil spirits.

The belief that any abnormality in human behavior was caused by evil spirits.

Judeo-Christian teachings influenced how people understood crime and criminal behavior.

Tortures used to expel evil spirits from those accused of witchcraft, often leading to death.

Trials by fire or combat where the outcome decided guilt or innocence, based on divine intervention.

The belief that social unrest and problems were caused by demonic possession and evil spirits.

This theory was used to divert attention from the failings of elites and place blame on individuals, making the elite indispensable.

Women, especially independent ones, were often accused of witchcraft, as their presence challenged traditional power structures.

The scientific revolution challenged religious superstition, advocating for empirical observation and reason in understanding crime.

The enlightenment philosophy promoted individual rights and freedom, with individuals entering a social contract to give up some freedoms for safety.

The enlightenment view of society as composed of rational individuals led to a new approach to understanding crime.

A theory of crime that emphasizes free will, rationality, and deterrence. People are seen as making conscious choices to commit crimes based on weighing potential costs and benefits.

A philosophy of criminal justice that emphasizes the use of punishment to deter crime. Offenders are held accountable for their actions, and the severity of punishment should reflect the seriousness of the crime.

The idea that punishments should be swift, certain, and severe enough to outweigh the potential benefits of committing a crime.

This principle of criminal justice suggests that everyone is equal before the law and should be treated fairly, regardless of their social status, wealth, or background.

The classical school of criminology advocated for fixed punishments for specific offenses. Judges had limited discretion in sentencing, and the punishment should be predetermined by law.

This school of criminology believed that crime is caused by factors outside of the individual's control, such as social conditions or biological traits.

This school of criminology emphasizes the importance of social structures, such as inequalities and poverty, in explaining crime.

The Statistical School emerged in the 19th century and used statistics to study crime patterns. This school was influenced by positivism, which believed that crime was a result of discoverable natural causes.

The Statistical School argued that crime is not just a result of individual choice, but rather influenced by social forces like poverty and education.

Lombroso, a prominent figure in the Positive School, believed that criminals had specific physical characteristics that made them predisposed to crime.

The Positive School advocated for the use of scientific methods, like controlled observation, to study crime. They believed that crime resulted from biological factors that were beyond the individual's control.

The Classical School focused on individual rationality and free will, while the Positive School emphasized the importance of biological and social factors.

The Neoclassical School aimed to make the justice system more flexible, considering offender characteristics, mitigating circumstances, and motives when determining punishments.

A school of thought in criminology that emerged in the 18th century, emphasizing rationality, free will, and deterrence as key factors in understanding and preventing crime.

A key figure in the Classical School of Criminology, best known for his book "An Essay on Crimes and Punishments," which criticized the cruelty and arbitrariness of the justice system in his time.

The belief that individuals are rational actors who weigh the potential costs and benefits of their actions before deciding to commit a crime.

A concept central to the Classical School, suggesting that punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed, ensuring fairness and deterring future offenses.

A fundamental principle of the Classical School, asserting that individuals are free to make their own choices, including the choice to commit a crime.

A hypothetical agreement between individuals and the state where individuals give up some freedoms in exchange for security and protection.

The use of punishment to deter crime by making the cost of committing a crime outweigh any potential benefits.

Lombroso believed that criminals were biologically different from non-criminals, with physical characteristics that indicated their 'atavistic' nature.

Lombroso used the term 'stigmata' to describe the physical characteristics he believed were unique to criminals.

Lombroso believed that robbers had specific physical features, like small, shifting eyes, that made them distinct.

Lombroso argued that women had less criminal tendencies due to their maternal instincts, piety, and lack of passion.

Lombroso categorized criminals into four groups: epileptics, the criminally insane, criminals of passion, and criminaloids.

Lombroso's theories, despite gaining popularity and influence, faced criticism due to their flawed scientific methodology, including unsystematic group selection and inaccurate measurements.

Lombroso's research emphasized the biological basis of crime, suggesting that criminals were born that way.

Lombroso's theories, while influential, did not stand up to scientific scrutiny and have been largely discredited.