Question 1

The term mens rea refers to the ______.

Accepted Answer

Mens rea refers to the intent of the offender, or the mental state they had when committing a crime. It is an important factor in determining criminal liability, as a person cannot be convicted of a crime that they did not intend to commit. The other options are not accurate definitions of mens rea.

Question 2

According to Emile Durkheim, the weakening of social norms, what he refers to as ______, results in increased crime levels.

Accepted Answer

According to Durkheim's theory, anomie refers to a state of normlessness or confusion that arises when there are no clear societal norms or values to guide behavior. This can lead to a breakdown in social order and an increase in deviant behavior, including crime. Durkheim argued that anomie was more likely to occur in modern, industrialized societies where traditional sources of meaning and regulation, such as religion and close-knit communities, were weakened or replaced by more individualistic and impersonal forms of social organization.

Question 3

The ______ test, the forefather of the IQ test, was developed at the beginning of the 20th century.

Accepted Answer

The Binet test was developed by French psychologist Alfred Binet in the early 1900s as a means of measuring intelligence in children. It was the first standardized intelligence test and became the basis for the modern IQ test. Comte and Physiognomic are not relevant to the development of intelligence testing, and while Goddard did contribute to the field, he did not develop the Binet test.

Question 4

One of the most studied chromosome abnormalities related to criminality is the XYY abnormality, often referred to as the ______.

Accepted Answer

The XYY abnormality is also known as the "supermale" syndrome. This is because individuals with this abnormality have an extra Y chromosome, which can cause them to develop physically taller, with more muscle mass and low IQ. However, research does not support a direct link between the XYY syndrome and criminal behavior.

Question 5

The Age of Reason emerged in the ______ against the backdrop of the Middle Ages.

Accepted Answer

The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, primarily emerged in the 17th century, characterized by an emphasis on reason, science, and intellectual interchange.

Question 6

During the 18th century, crime was equated with ______.

Accepted Answer

During the 18th century, crime was often equated with sin, reflecting the strong influence of religious and moral perspectives on the understanding of criminal behavior.

Question 7

Charles Darwin wrote which of the following books in 1859, which introduced the theory of evolution and natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin wrote "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, which introduced the theory of evolution and natural selection. Options A, C, and D do not correspond to the title or subject matter of Darwin's most famous work.

Question 8

______ are people who do not feel shame or guilt and are incapable of forming attachments to others.

Accepted Answer

Psychopaths lack empathy, guilt, and shame, and they have difficulty forming emotional attachments with others. Imbeciles do not have the cognitive abilities of average individuals, superegos refer to the moral component of the personality, and anomie is a term used in sociology to describe a breakdown of social norms.

Question 9

Cesare Beccaria argued that the purpose of punishment should be ______.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria believed that the purpose of punishment should be deterrence, meaning that the severity of the punishment should deter individuals from committing crimes in the future. He argued against punishment that was solely focused on retribution or revenge.

Question 10

Low levels of ______ have been found consistently to be related to criminal offending.

Accepted Answer

There is consistent evidence that low levels of serotonin in the brain are associated with increased impulsive and aggressive behavior, as well as a greater likelihood of engaging in criminal activities. This is supported by numerous studies on both animals and humans. While other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and testosterone may also play a role in criminal behavior, the evidence for serotonin is particularly compelling.

Question 11

John Bowlby developed attachment theory, which emphasized the importance of attachment or bond between ______.

Accepted Answer

John Bowlby's attachment theory emphasized the importance of the attachment or bond between the mother and child.

Question 12

One of the first theories to focus on biological variations to explain crime was ______, which relied on the measurement of skulls, and the examination of the brains of deceased people.

Accepted Answer

Craniometry relied on the measurement of skulls and examination of the brains of deceased people to explain biological variations in criminal behavior.

Question 13

Willem Bonger developed a theory of crime based on the works of ______, which attributes crime to the characteristics of modern capitalist economies.

Accepted Answer

Willem Bonger's theory of crime is based on the works of Karl Marx, who argued that crime is a natural product of the capitalist economic system. According to Marx, capitalism creates inequality and competition, which lead to poverty, desperation, and criminal behavior. Bonger built upon Marx's ideas, arguing that the economic and social conditions of capitalism promote individualism, materialism, and greed, which in turn lead to crime.

Question 14

The ______ was developed in 1940 to detect psychological issues and abnormalities.

Accepted Answer

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, also known as the MMPI, was developed in 1940 and is a widely used psychological test designed to assess personality traits and psychopathology in adults.

Question 15

Which of the following proposed the idea of the "felicific calculus," which considered humans like calculators figuring the costs and benefits in deciding on the best course of action.

Accepted Answer

The idea of the "felicific calculus" was proposed by Jeremy Bentham, an influential utilitarian philosopher. He believed that humans are like calculators and should consider the costs and benefits when making decisions in order to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Question 16

The most famous version of psychoanalytic theory was developed by ______.

Accepted Answer

Sigmund Freud is widely considered the founder of psychoanalytic theory, which emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping personality and behavior.

Question 17

______ is considered the father of the positive school of criminology because he was the first person to apply the scientific method to the study of crime.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Lombroso is considered the father of the positive school of criminology and the first person to apply the scientific method to the study of crime. He believed that criminal behavior was determined by biological factors and that criminals were "born" rather than made.

Question 18

According to Cesare Beccaria, the most important aspect of punishment is the ______ of punishment.

Accepted Answer

Cesare Beccaria believed that punishment should be certain, meaning that the offender should know that if they commit a crime, they will definitely be punished. He believed that a swift and certain punishment would be more effective in deterring crime than a severe punishment that is applied inconsistently.

Question 19

Freud argued that the ______ acted as our moral conscience.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that the superego represented the internalized voice of authority and morality, striving to suppress the impulses of the id in favor of socially acceptable behavior.

Question 20

After comparing crime data in Belgium, Holland, and France, ______ found that the level of crime varied across places, and concluded that something about places must affect crime.

Accepted Answer

Adolphe Quetelet is known for his work on social statistics and his study on crime rates in Belgium, Holland, and France. He found that crime rates varied across places, and concluded that something about places (not individual characteristics) must affect crime.

Quiz 4: Classical, Biological, and Psychological Theories of Crime