SOC 2700 Midterm Exam with All Correct
Answers 2026-2027 Updated.
Theories - Answer -subject to change over time
-based on facts
Common explanations for the Columbine shooting - Answer -family background
-social marginalization
-mental illness
-access to guns
-fame/media attention
Everyday explanations for crime - Answer -genetics
-hometown upbringing
-bad peer influence
-social upbringing
-not enough crackdown on criminals
-not noticing warnings
Why do we need theory? - Answer -helps us understand "why"
-helps us understand causes of crimes/predictors
-helps us understand how people respond to behaviour of others
-guides policy
Macro theory - Answer Broad explanations of social structure with emphasis on rates of crime
(epidemiology)
Bridging/Meso Theory - Answer Looks at how social structure operates and how individuals
become criminal
Micro Theory - Answer Etiological explanations for individual and small groups' criminal
behaviour
Meta-theory - Answer Less testable theories about theory itself
, Classical Theories - Answer Focus on legal statuses, governmental structures, and the rights of
humans
Positivist Theories - Answer Focus on pathology using scientific methods to treat and prevent
crime
Conflict Theories - Answer Based on the assumption that disagreement is common and that
people in society hold conflicting values
Consensus Theories - Answer Based on the assumption that there is agreement in society
Structural Theories - Answer Focus on society's organization and effects on behaviour (usually
don't focus on social structure)
Process Theories - Answer Explain how people become criminal or delinquent (usually don't
focus on social structure)
The Classical School - Answer -criminal behaviour = rational
-most people have the potential to engage in crime
-cost/benefit analysis followed by free will
-fear of punishment keeps people law abiding (severity, certainty and speed of punishment)
-punishment fits the crime, not the offender
-CJS must be predictable (laws/punishments known to the public)
Cesare Beccaria - Answer -social contract
-crime prevention > revenge
Cesare Beccaria's 3 types of crimes - Answer 1) Threatened security of state - these crimes
should have minimal punishment
2) Injured citizens or property - deserves a more severe punishment (corporal)
3) Run contrary to social order (moral crimes)
Two forms of deterrence - Answer 1) General - when a consequence is aimed at one individual
but it's meant to dissuade everyone from committing that crime
2) Specific - designed to prevent an individual from re-offending
Three components of deterrence - Answer 1) Celerity - speed of punishment
Answers 2026-2027 Updated.
Theories - Answer -subject to change over time
-based on facts
Common explanations for the Columbine shooting - Answer -family background
-social marginalization
-mental illness
-access to guns
-fame/media attention
Everyday explanations for crime - Answer -genetics
-hometown upbringing
-bad peer influence
-social upbringing
-not enough crackdown on criminals
-not noticing warnings
Why do we need theory? - Answer -helps us understand "why"
-helps us understand causes of crimes/predictors
-helps us understand how people respond to behaviour of others
-guides policy
Macro theory - Answer Broad explanations of social structure with emphasis on rates of crime
(epidemiology)
Bridging/Meso Theory - Answer Looks at how social structure operates and how individuals
become criminal
Micro Theory - Answer Etiological explanations for individual and small groups' criminal
behaviour
Meta-theory - Answer Less testable theories about theory itself
, Classical Theories - Answer Focus on legal statuses, governmental structures, and the rights of
humans
Positivist Theories - Answer Focus on pathology using scientific methods to treat and prevent
crime
Conflict Theories - Answer Based on the assumption that disagreement is common and that
people in society hold conflicting values
Consensus Theories - Answer Based on the assumption that there is agreement in society
Structural Theories - Answer Focus on society's organization and effects on behaviour (usually
don't focus on social structure)
Process Theories - Answer Explain how people become criminal or delinquent (usually don't
focus on social structure)
The Classical School - Answer -criminal behaviour = rational
-most people have the potential to engage in crime
-cost/benefit analysis followed by free will
-fear of punishment keeps people law abiding (severity, certainty and speed of punishment)
-punishment fits the crime, not the offender
-CJS must be predictable (laws/punishments known to the public)
Cesare Beccaria - Answer -social contract
-crime prevention > revenge
Cesare Beccaria's 3 types of crimes - Answer 1) Threatened security of state - these crimes
should have minimal punishment
2) Injured citizens or property - deserves a more severe punishment (corporal)
3) Run contrary to social order (moral crimes)
Two forms of deterrence - Answer 1) General - when a consequence is aimed at one individual
but it's meant to dissuade everyone from committing that crime
2) Specific - designed to prevent an individual from re-offending
Three components of deterrence - Answer 1) Celerity - speed of punishment
