Theory Exam Study Questions with Answers
graded A+
1). Mala in se
Ans: Evil in itself (murder)
2). Mala prohibita
Ans: Evil because prohibited (prostitution)
3). Paradigms
Ans: Distinctive theoretical models or perspectives
4). Classical school
Ans: BASE: Assumes people have free will and choose to commit crime based on
rational decisions (cost v. benefits/ pleasure v. pain)
ORIGINS: Foundation was traced to enlightenment philosophers, most importantly Cesare
Beccaria's (1764) book "On Crimes and Punishments"
5). Positive school
Ans: BASE: People have NO free will. Assumes people are passive subjects of
determinism - people do not freely choose their behavior (genetics, IQ, education)
ORIGINS: Cesare Lombroso (Wrote "The Criminal Man" in 1876)
6). Conflict/critical theories
Ans: Emphasizes the use of law as a reaction or tool to enforce restraint on others by
an authority (i.e., society's reactions to juveniles)
7). Integrated theories
Ans: Attempt to combine the best aspects of other theories into a better single
theoretical framework
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, 8). Micro level of analysis
Ans: Studies crime at the individual (person) level.
9). Macro level of analysis
Ans: Studies crime at the group level.
10). Consensus perspective
Ans: Assumes laws are made to define acts as criminal when they violate individual
rights (we all agree these are immoral)
11). Conflict theories
Ans: Assume that different groups disagree about the fairness of laws and that laws
are used as a tool to oppress certain groups (race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation)
12). Tabula rasa
Ans: People are born as blank slates
13). Characteristics of good theories (6)
Ans: Parsimony, Scope, Logistical Consistency, Testability, Empirical Validity, Policy
Implications
14). Parsimony
Ans: A theory should be simple and straightforward.
15). Causality
Ans: Cause and effect; one variable leads to a change in another.
16). Informal controls vs formal controls
Ans: -Informal controls: ties to the community that encourage people to not break the
law (family, church, community)
-Formal controls (police, laws, punishments)
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graded A+
1). Mala in se
Ans: Evil in itself (murder)
2). Mala prohibita
Ans: Evil because prohibited (prostitution)
3). Paradigms
Ans: Distinctive theoretical models or perspectives
4). Classical school
Ans: BASE: Assumes people have free will and choose to commit crime based on
rational decisions (cost v. benefits/ pleasure v. pain)
ORIGINS: Foundation was traced to enlightenment philosophers, most importantly Cesare
Beccaria's (1764) book "On Crimes and Punishments"
5). Positive school
Ans: BASE: People have NO free will. Assumes people are passive subjects of
determinism - people do not freely choose their behavior (genetics, IQ, education)
ORIGINS: Cesare Lombroso (Wrote "The Criminal Man" in 1876)
6). Conflict/critical theories
Ans: Emphasizes the use of law as a reaction or tool to enforce restraint on others by
an authority (i.e., society's reactions to juveniles)
7). Integrated theories
Ans: Attempt to combine the best aspects of other theories into a better single
theoretical framework
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 9
, 8). Micro level of analysis
Ans: Studies crime at the individual (person) level.
9). Macro level of analysis
Ans: Studies crime at the group level.
10). Consensus perspective
Ans: Assumes laws are made to define acts as criminal when they violate individual
rights (we all agree these are immoral)
11). Conflict theories
Ans: Assume that different groups disagree about the fairness of laws and that laws
are used as a tool to oppress certain groups (race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation)
12). Tabula rasa
Ans: People are born as blank slates
13). Characteristics of good theories (6)
Ans: Parsimony, Scope, Logistical Consistency, Testability, Empirical Validity, Policy
Implications
14). Parsimony
Ans: A theory should be simple and straightforward.
15). Causality
Ans: Cause and effect; one variable leads to a change in another.
16). Informal controls vs formal controls
Ans: -Informal controls: ties to the community that encourage people to not break the
law (family, church, community)
-Formal controls (police, laws, punishments)
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 9
