Question 1

Utilitarianism is the ideal of the greatest happiness shared by the greatest number.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is a philosophical theory which suggests that an action is right if it leads to the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. This means that the ideal is indeed the greatest happiness shared by the greatest number, making option A true.

Question 2

Paradigms before the Enlightenment and contemporary times tended to focus on the human ability to choose one's own behavior and destiny.

Accepted Answer

Before the Enlightenment, paradigms often emphasized the role of divine will, fate, or pre-established social hierarchies in determining human behavior and destiny, rather than individual choice and autonomy.

Question 3

One of the most common supernatural beliefs of primitive cultures was that the moon,in its fullest state,was a trigger for criminal activity

Accepted Answer

In many primitive cultures, there was a belief that criminal and antisocial behavior increased during a full moon. This belief, known as the lunar effect, is still prevalent in modern society despite lack of scientific evidence to support it.

Question 4

Punishment given to an individual meant to prevent or deter other potential offenders from engaging in such criminal activity in the future is called ______ deterrence.

Accepted Answer

Specific deterrence focuses on punishing an individual in a way that will deter them from committing future crimes, whereas general deterrence aims to deter potential offenders in society as a whole. Prevention and individual deterrence are not commonly used terms in discussing the types of deterrence.

Question 5

All the Enlightenment philosophers had one common belief: punishment.

Accepted Answer

The Enlightenment philosophers did not all have a common belief in punishment. They held a wide range of beliefs on the topic, with some advocating for more humane and rehabilitative approaches to justice.

Question 6

The emphasis on individual responsibility is why the Classical School theories are used as the basis for U.S.policies on punishment for criminal activity.

Accepted Answer

The Classical School believes in the responsibility of the individual and rational choice theory, which has been influential in shaping U.S. policies on punishment for criminal activity. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 7

The most important distinction of the Classical School theories is that they emphasize individual decision making regardless of any extraneous influences on a person's free will,such as the economy or bonding with society.

Accepted Answer

The Classical School of criminology places a strong emphasis on individual decision making and rational choice theory, which asserts that people make choices based on their own self-interest and free will, regardless of external factors such as the economy or social influence. This stands in contrast to other theories, such as the positivist school, which argue that social and environmental factors play a significant role in shaping criminal behavior.

Question 8

The modern example of the Three Strikes Rule is given in relation to what characteristic of punishment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The modern example of the Three Strikes...

Question 9

The death penalty serves as a very effective deterrent against murder crimes.

Accepted Answer

While there are many opinions on the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent, the evidence is inconclusive. Some studies suggest that the death penalty may not actually deter murderers, while others argue that it may have a marginal deterrent effect. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the death penalty as a deterrent is uncertain and varies depending on individual factors and societal contexts.

Question 10

The characteristic of punishment postulated by Beccaria that he believed to be the most important was ______.

Accepted Answer

Beccaria believed that the most important characteristic of punishment was certainty. He argued that punishment must be certain, prompt, and proportionate to the crime committed in order to deter individuals from committing crimes in the future.

Question 11

The book The Origin of Species,written by ______,cast doubt on Classical and Neoclassical theories.This book introduced the concept that other influences of human behavior beyond free will and choice were at play.

Accepted Answer

The book mentioned in the question is "The Origin of Species," which was written by Charles Darwin. This book introduced the theory of evolution and challenged traditional beliefs about the origins of species. It did not directly address human behavior, but some of its ideas (such as natural selection) were later applied to the study of human behavior and psychology. Therefore, Darwin's work had an indirect influence on the development of social and behavioral sciences, and it can be seen as a precursor to modern theories that attempt to explain human behavior in terms of biological and environmental factors.

Question 12

For the vast majority of human civilization's history,people believed that criminal activity was caused by either supernatural or religious factors.

Accepted Answer

Before the development of modern criminology and the scientific study of crime, people believed that criminal activity was often caused by supernatural or religious factors, such as possession by evil spirits or a lack of moral character. It was only with the Enlightenment and the emergence of rational thought that scholars began to examine crime from a social, psychological, and biological perspective.

Question 13

The vital deterrent characteristics of punishment postulated by Beccaria are all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Beccaria did not include conforming as one of the vital deterrent characteristics of punishment. The other three that were included are celerity (the swiftness of punishment), severity (the degree of punishment), and certainty (the likelihood of punishment).

Question 14

Exorcisms are still used today by some religious institutions,including the Catholic Church.

Accepted Answer

Exorcisms are still practiced by some religious institutions, including the Catholic Church. It is a rarely used practice and is only done after a psychological and medical evaluation to rule out any underlying conditions that may be causing the behavior.

Question 15

Beccaria supported capital punishment.

Accepted Answer

Beccaria was actually against capital punishment, arguing that it is not an effective deterrent, is arbitrary in its application, and deprives individuals of their right to life. He advocated for proportionate and rational punishments that would deter crime without becoming overly cruel.

Question 16

When an individual has ______,they are thought to be oblivious to many of the risks that may result from their behavior.

Accepted Answer

Bounded rationality refers to the idea that individuals make decisions based on limited information and cognitive resources. This can lead to a lack of awareness or consideration for certain risks associated with their behavior. Therefore, B is the best choice as it directly relates to the notion of being oblivious to potential risks. The other options do not fit the context of the sentence or are not valid concepts.

Question 17

The ______ is the predicted tendency of homicides to increase after an execution,particularly after high-profile executions.

Accepted Answer

The brutalization effect refers to the predicted tendency of homicides to increase after an execution, especially after high-profile executions. This suggests that instead of deterring future crimes, the execution may actually have the opposite effect by inspiring violent behavior. The other options, such as the excitatory effect or barbarity effect, are not commonly used or recognized terms in relation to the death penalty. The deterrent effect, on the other hand, refers to the theory that the death penalty will serve as a deterrent to potential criminals, but this theory is highly debated and has not been conclusively proven.

Question 18

Beccaria claimed torture should not be used against defendants.Although some countries still use torture,the former U.S.Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez wrote a memo stating that torture of terrorist suspects by the U.S.military was not to be condoned.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Beccaria claimed torture should not be used...

Question 19

Beccaria claimed that torture should not be used against defendants.

Accepted Answer

Beccaria believed that torture was not an effective means of obtaining the truth and that it was barbaric and unjust. He argued that a fair trial should be based on rational evidence and that the use of torture violated the principle of innocence until proven guilty.

Question 20

Of any other perspective to date,deterrence theory has had the most profound impact on justice systems in our nation

Accepted Answer

Deterrence theory is often used to justify harsher punishments and longer sentences, with the belief that the fear of punishment will deter people from committing crimes in the first place. This has led to a significant increase in incarceration rates and the development of mandatory minimum sentencing laws, among other things. Therefore, deterrence theory has had a significant impact on justice systems in the US.

Quiz 3: Classical School of Criminology Thought