Chapter 2: The Classical School

Question 1

The Classical School of Criminology

Question 2

The Classical School developed during the Enlightenment and focused on rational explanations of crime.

Question 3

It rejected earlier supernatural or arbitrary explanations for deviance and instead emphasized free will

Answer 3

rational decision-making

Question 4

Major contributors included:

Question 5

Cesare Beccaria

Question 6

Jeremy Bentham

Question 7

Key takeaway:

Question 8

The Classical School argues that people commit crimes through rational choices.

Question 9

Free Will and Rational Choice

Question 10

Classical theorists believed that individuals have free will and can make rational decisions. People weigh the potential benefits of crime against the possible consequences.

Question 11

If the rewards of crime seem greater than the punishment

Answer 11

a person may choose to commit the crime.

Question 12

Key takeaway:

Question 13

Crime occurs when individuals believe the benefits outweigh the risks.

Question 14

Deterrence Theory

Question 15

The Classical School emphasized deterrence as the primary purpose of punishment.

Question 16

There are two main types of deterrence:

Question 17

Specific deterrence: Punishment prevents the offender from committing future crimes.

Question 18

General deterrence: Punishment discourages others in society from committing crimes.

Question 19

Key takeaway:

Question 20

Punishment is meant to discourage both offenders and the general public from committing crime.

Question 21

Utilitarianism

Question 22

Bentham developed the idea of utilitarianism

Answer 22

which states that actions should produce the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Question 23

Punishment should therefore be justified only if it benefits society by preventing crime.

Question 24

Key takeaway:

Question 25

Punishment should increase overall social well-being.

Question 26

Legal Reforms Influenced by Classical Theory

Question 27

Classical ideas influenced many reforms in criminal justice systems

Answer 27

including:

Question 28

Clear written laws

Question 29

Proportionate punishments

Question 30

Fair trials

Question 31

Equal treatment under the law

Question 32

These principles are still central to modern criminal justice systems.

Question 33

Key takeaway:

Question 34

Classical theory helped shape modern legal principles of fairness and proportional punishment.

Question 35

Criticisms of the Classical School

Question 36

Although influential

Answer 36

the Classical School has been criticized for assuming that everyone behaves rationally.

Question 37

Critics argue that crime can also be influenced by:

Question 38

Social inequality

Question 39

Psychological factors

Question 40

Environmental conditions

Question 41

These criticisms led to the development of later criminological theories.

Question 42

Key takeaway:

Question 43

Not all criminal behavior is purely rational.

Question 44

Overall Summary

Question 45

The Classical School of criminology argues that individuals commit crime through rational choice and free will. Influenced by Enlightenment thinking

Answer 45

scholars such as Beccaria and Bentham emphasized deterrence