Soc 2700 Midterm Exam#1 (Ch 1-7) Prep
Questions and All Solved Solutions
2026-2027 Updated.
What was Columbine? - Answer -Largest school shooting at the time
-2 males murdered 12 students, 1 teacher and later took their own lives
-Intent of bombing the school, but backfired so they had to shoot
What are the units of analysis? - Answer Biological, psychological, social psychological and
sociological
What is the biological unit of analysis? - Answer Genetic, chemical, neurological and
physiological
What is the psychological unit of analysis? - Answer Personality, emotional maladjustment,
and psychic disturbance
What is the social psychological unit of analysis? - Answer Behaviour, self and cognitive
variables in group context
What is the sociological unit of analysis? - Answer Cultural, structural and sociodemographic
variables
What are the different types of theories? - Answer -Micro, meso and macro
What does a micro theory include? - Answer Micro is small, it applies to individuals/small
groups. It shows a variance in individuals when they are compared and is based off of
experiences
What is meso theory? - Answer Meso is the middle theory; it focuses on social structure and
individuals. Both groupings of micro and macro combined here
What is macro theory? - Answer Macro is large, it looks on social structure, and rates of crime.
This theory argues the causes of crimes, and believes it differs between groups
Define concepts of classical theory - Answer -Legal statutes
-Governmental structures
,-Rights of humans
-Criminal behaviour is rational
-Crime is choice/will free
-Fear keeps us law abiding
What are the beliefs of classical theory? - Answer -Crime is a choice
-Punishment should fit crime; not the offender = uniform throughout
-Predictable
-Fear of punishment makes us conform to laws
-Pros/cons of actions before committing them
Define concepts of positivist theory - Answer -Scientific methods
-Treatment/prevention of crime
-Nature of offender is important
-Behaviour determined by factors outside control
What are the beliefs of positivist theory? - Answer -Behaviour is determined by outside factors
-Individual factors create an influence
-Criminals are different from those who abide by the law
-Science can find the causes of crime and treatment
-Judged on the nature of the offender; not the crime
Define the concepts of conflict theory - Answer -Disagreement
-Conflicting values
-Power/inequality
-Rebellion attempt to overthrow power
What are beliefs of conflict theory? - Answer -Disagreements within society and people in
society have conflicting beliefs
-Rebellion in attempt to overthrow power
-Power vs inequality
Define concepts of consensus theory - Answer -Agreement
-Strive toward same goals
-Laws protect general public
, -Deviance reminds us of good and bad
What are the beliefs of consensus theory? - Answer -All striving for the best despite individual
factors
-Laws are created for the greater good
-Conformance to law= Good vs Bad
Define concepts of structural theory - Answer -Societies organization and effects on behaviour
-Proportion of crimes among groups/classes/societies differ because of variations in
cultural/social makeup
-Often macro
What are the beliefs of structural theory? - Answer -Organizations of society in reflection of
behaviour
-Crimes amongst groups/classes/society differ due to cultural/social make up
Define concepts of process theory - Answer -Steps to becoming criminal
-Life history
-Individual characteristics
-Social situations lead to crime
-Often micro
What are the beliefs of process theory? - Answer -Steps that lead to criminal activity (ex.
abandoned by parents at 10 and steals in order to provide for younger siblings)
-Individual life history
Why do we need theory? - Answer -Helps us discover why crimes occur
-Helps us to better understand/predict the future and reduce crime as a result of these
predictions
-Theorist feelings towards society in order to better determine individual perspectives
-Guides crime control
Who was Cesare Beccaria? - Answer "Laws are the conditions under which independent and
isolated men united to form a society"
-Laws protect others and ourselves
-Rationality and human race
-Deterrence = punishment, not retribution
Questions and All Solved Solutions
2026-2027 Updated.
What was Columbine? - Answer -Largest school shooting at the time
-2 males murdered 12 students, 1 teacher and later took their own lives
-Intent of bombing the school, but backfired so they had to shoot
What are the units of analysis? - Answer Biological, psychological, social psychological and
sociological
What is the biological unit of analysis? - Answer Genetic, chemical, neurological and
physiological
What is the psychological unit of analysis? - Answer Personality, emotional maladjustment,
and psychic disturbance
What is the social psychological unit of analysis? - Answer Behaviour, self and cognitive
variables in group context
What is the sociological unit of analysis? - Answer Cultural, structural and sociodemographic
variables
What are the different types of theories? - Answer -Micro, meso and macro
What does a micro theory include? - Answer Micro is small, it applies to individuals/small
groups. It shows a variance in individuals when they are compared and is based off of
experiences
What is meso theory? - Answer Meso is the middle theory; it focuses on social structure and
individuals. Both groupings of micro and macro combined here
What is macro theory? - Answer Macro is large, it looks on social structure, and rates of crime.
This theory argues the causes of crimes, and believes it differs between groups
Define concepts of classical theory - Answer -Legal statutes
-Governmental structures
,-Rights of humans
-Criminal behaviour is rational
-Crime is choice/will free
-Fear keeps us law abiding
What are the beliefs of classical theory? - Answer -Crime is a choice
-Punishment should fit crime; not the offender = uniform throughout
-Predictable
-Fear of punishment makes us conform to laws
-Pros/cons of actions before committing them
Define concepts of positivist theory - Answer -Scientific methods
-Treatment/prevention of crime
-Nature of offender is important
-Behaviour determined by factors outside control
What are the beliefs of positivist theory? - Answer -Behaviour is determined by outside factors
-Individual factors create an influence
-Criminals are different from those who abide by the law
-Science can find the causes of crime and treatment
-Judged on the nature of the offender; not the crime
Define the concepts of conflict theory - Answer -Disagreement
-Conflicting values
-Power/inequality
-Rebellion attempt to overthrow power
What are beliefs of conflict theory? - Answer -Disagreements within society and people in
society have conflicting beliefs
-Rebellion in attempt to overthrow power
-Power vs inequality
Define concepts of consensus theory - Answer -Agreement
-Strive toward same goals
-Laws protect general public
, -Deviance reminds us of good and bad
What are the beliefs of consensus theory? - Answer -All striving for the best despite individual
factors
-Laws are created for the greater good
-Conformance to law= Good vs Bad
Define concepts of structural theory - Answer -Societies organization and effects on behaviour
-Proportion of crimes among groups/classes/societies differ because of variations in
cultural/social makeup
-Often macro
What are the beliefs of structural theory? - Answer -Organizations of society in reflection of
behaviour
-Crimes amongst groups/classes/society differ due to cultural/social make up
Define concepts of process theory - Answer -Steps to becoming criminal
-Life history
-Individual characteristics
-Social situations lead to crime
-Often micro
What are the beliefs of process theory? - Answer -Steps that lead to criminal activity (ex.
abandoned by parents at 10 and steals in order to provide for younger siblings)
-Individual life history
Why do we need theory? - Answer -Helps us discover why crimes occur
-Helps us to better understand/predict the future and reduce crime as a result of these
predictions
-Theorist feelings towards society in order to better determine individual perspectives
-Guides crime control
Who was Cesare Beccaria? - Answer "Laws are the conditions under which independent and
isolated men united to form a society"
-Laws protect others and ourselves
-Rationality and human race
-Deterrence = punishment, not retribution
