SOC 3600 exam 1 Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025-2026
mala in se - Answerswrong in itself (robbery, murder)
mala prohibita - Answerswrong because there is a law that says its wrong (speeding)
consensus perspective of crime - Answersassumption that we all agree to a law
conflict perspective of crime - Answerssome believe it is a crime so people of power can feel powerful &
in control
criminology - Answersthe scientific study of crime & the reasons people engage or dont engage in crime
theory - Answerspart of an explanation of something. Sensible way of relating a phenomenon to the
information, beliefs, & attitudes of people
- most statements about relationships between OBSERVABLE phenemonon
- can be proven false
Characteristics of a "good" theory - Answers1. Parsimony: simplicity
2. scope: range of phenomenon the theory explains
3. logical consistency: does it make sense?
4. testability: has to be testable through scientific research
5. empirical validity: supported by research
correlation - Answers- variables change together; an association between 2 variables
- positive correlation: both variables increase or decrease together
- negative correlation: variables move in opposite direction
- HAS TO BE 2 VARIABLES, CANT BE A 3RD
Establishing causality - Answers- causation has to have
1. correlation
2. temporal ordering
3. non-spuriousness (no 3rd variable)
causal relation - Answersstatement about probability, NEVER an assertion of certainty
pre-classical perspective of crime & punishment - Answers- criminal activity was caused by
supernatural/religious factors
, - punishment included beheadings, torture, burning alive, drowning, stoning & quartering
The Enlightenment - Answers- Thomas Hobbes
- humans are rational & have free will
- people pursue their own interests, but give up that right in favor of the social contract
social contract - Answersagreement of citizens promising to abide by the rules or laws set forth by a
given society in return for protection
Classical school of criminology theory - Answers- Cesare Beccaria & deterrence
- father of criminology & deterrence theory
- citizens give up rights for protection
- free will & individual choice
- utilitarianism
utilitarianism - Answers- whats best for everyone
- ignorance of context, intent not considered
specific deterrence - Answersdeters people from committing AGAIN
- focuses on the individual
general deterrence - Answersdeters everyone regardless of whether the individual criminal is deterred
- seeing someone else get punished for something deters others from doing that act
Impact of Beccarias work - Answers- theory of deterrence incorporated in many institutions (Bill of
Rights, Constitution)
- ideology of our system of justice
- Jeremy Benthem & hedonistic calculus: Pleasure pain principle
- the Panopticon
The Neoclassical school theory - Answerstakes into account contextual circumstances of the individual
or situation
- allows for increases or decreases in punishment (discretion)
policy implication of neoclassical school - Answers- based on deterrence theory
- increasing punishment sanctions will deter crime
mala in se - Answerswrong in itself (robbery, murder)
mala prohibita - Answerswrong because there is a law that says its wrong (speeding)
consensus perspective of crime - Answersassumption that we all agree to a law
conflict perspective of crime - Answerssome believe it is a crime so people of power can feel powerful &
in control
criminology - Answersthe scientific study of crime & the reasons people engage or dont engage in crime
theory - Answerspart of an explanation of something. Sensible way of relating a phenomenon to the
information, beliefs, & attitudes of people
- most statements about relationships between OBSERVABLE phenemonon
- can be proven false
Characteristics of a "good" theory - Answers1. Parsimony: simplicity
2. scope: range of phenomenon the theory explains
3. logical consistency: does it make sense?
4. testability: has to be testable through scientific research
5. empirical validity: supported by research
correlation - Answers- variables change together; an association between 2 variables
- positive correlation: both variables increase or decrease together
- negative correlation: variables move in opposite direction
- HAS TO BE 2 VARIABLES, CANT BE A 3RD
Establishing causality - Answers- causation has to have
1. correlation
2. temporal ordering
3. non-spuriousness (no 3rd variable)
causal relation - Answersstatement about probability, NEVER an assertion of certainty
pre-classical perspective of crime & punishment - Answers- criminal activity was caused by
supernatural/religious factors
, - punishment included beheadings, torture, burning alive, drowning, stoning & quartering
The Enlightenment - Answers- Thomas Hobbes
- humans are rational & have free will
- people pursue their own interests, but give up that right in favor of the social contract
social contract - Answersagreement of citizens promising to abide by the rules or laws set forth by a
given society in return for protection
Classical school of criminology theory - Answers- Cesare Beccaria & deterrence
- father of criminology & deterrence theory
- citizens give up rights for protection
- free will & individual choice
- utilitarianism
utilitarianism - Answers- whats best for everyone
- ignorance of context, intent not considered
specific deterrence - Answersdeters people from committing AGAIN
- focuses on the individual
general deterrence - Answersdeters everyone regardless of whether the individual criminal is deterred
- seeing someone else get punished for something deters others from doing that act
Impact of Beccarias work - Answers- theory of deterrence incorporated in many institutions (Bill of
Rights, Constitution)
- ideology of our system of justice
- Jeremy Benthem & hedonistic calculus: Pleasure pain principle
- the Panopticon
The Neoclassical school theory - Answerstakes into account contextual circumstances of the individual
or situation
- allows for increases or decreases in punishment (discretion)
policy implication of neoclassical school - Answers- based on deterrence theory
- increasing punishment sanctions will deter crime
