CRIMINOLOGY 210 EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Criminology - ANSWERSAn interdisciplinary science that gathers and analyzes data on
crime and criminal behavior.
Crime - ANSWERSAn act in violation of a criminal law for which a punishment is
prescribed, committed with intention and without defense or justification.
Mala in Se - ANSWERSa descriptive term for acts that are inherently wrong, regardless
of whether they are prohibited by law
Mala prohibita - ANSWERSActs that are "bad because they are prohibited"—those
crimes that are time and culture bound.
Criminality - ANSWERSA property of individuals who signal the willingness to commit
crimes and other harmful acts.
Five components to a crime - ANSWERSActus reus, mens rea, concurrence of the
criminal act with the individual's mental state, causation between the crime and the
harm suffered, harm to the victim or the broader community
PreScientific Era - ANSWERSReligious and spiritual explanations of bad behavior
predominated.
The Renaissance (approx. 1450 to 1600) - ANSWERSThere was a move toward
human-centered naturalism.
Some argued that criminality could be identified through personal appearance.
The Enlightenment (approx. 1650 to 1800) - ANSWERSMembers of the "classical
school," such as Beccaria, emphasized human rationality and free will.
Industrial Revolution - ANSWERSThe "positivist school" held that science could provide
answers for everything during this time period.
Progressive Era (approx. 1890 to 1920) - ANSWERSThis era was characterized by
liberal efforts to bring about social reform.
The focus of criminology shifted from biological determinism to aggregate level-social
factors that contribute to crime.
Sociology became disciplinary home to criminology.
1950s-1970s - ANSWERSThere was a move to understand psychological processes
and socialization.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Criminology - ANSWERSAn interdisciplinary science that gathers and analyzes data on
crime and criminal behavior.
Crime - ANSWERSAn act in violation of a criminal law for which a punishment is
prescribed, committed with intention and without defense or justification.
Mala in Se - ANSWERSa descriptive term for acts that are inherently wrong, regardless
of whether they are prohibited by law
Mala prohibita - ANSWERSActs that are "bad because they are prohibited"—those
crimes that are time and culture bound.
Criminality - ANSWERSA property of individuals who signal the willingness to commit
crimes and other harmful acts.
Five components to a crime - ANSWERSActus reus, mens rea, concurrence of the
criminal act with the individual's mental state, causation between the crime and the
harm suffered, harm to the victim or the broader community
PreScientific Era - ANSWERSReligious and spiritual explanations of bad behavior
predominated.
The Renaissance (approx. 1450 to 1600) - ANSWERSThere was a move toward
human-centered naturalism.
Some argued that criminality could be identified through personal appearance.
The Enlightenment (approx. 1650 to 1800) - ANSWERSMembers of the "classical
school," such as Beccaria, emphasized human rationality and free will.
Industrial Revolution - ANSWERSThe "positivist school" held that science could provide
answers for everything during this time period.
Progressive Era (approx. 1890 to 1920) - ANSWERSThis era was characterized by
liberal efforts to bring about social reform.
The focus of criminology shifted from biological determinism to aggregate level-social
factors that contribute to crime.
Sociology became disciplinary home to criminology.
1950s-1970s - ANSWERSThere was a move to understand psychological processes
and socialization.
