Classical vs. Positivist
A person chooses to shoplift because they think they won’t get caught. Which principle from this theory explains their decision?
The Classical idea of rational choice — people weigh risks vs. rewards.
A student steals lunch money because they feel pressure to “fit in” but can’t afford what others have. Which theory explains this and why?
Strain Theory – inequality creates pressure to achieve goals through deviant means.
A company knowingly dumps toxic waste into a river, harming a low-income community. Police charge several protesters but not the company. Using Marxist perspective, what does this situation reveal about power and law?
It shows laws protect elite interests and criminalize resistance, revealing inequality and selective enforcement.
A defense lawyer argues that her client’s violent outburst came from a brain injury that reduced his ability to control impulses. How might a biological theorist explain this behaviour?
Damage to the prefrontal cortex can alter impulse control and moral judgement, increasing aggression.
A teen vandalizes property and laughs about it, showing no guilt or empathy. Which psychological explanation could describe this behaviour and why?
Psychopathy / ASPD: Lack of empathy, remorse, and emotional response; weak conscience.
A judge gives a consistent sentence for similar crimes to make punishments predictable. What Classical concept is being applied?
Deterrence: Certainty and proportionality of punishment
A teen who skips class once is labelled a “bad kid,” and eventually starts skipping more and hanging with deviant peers. Which sociological process explains this?
Labelling Theory – being labelled leads to secondary deviance and a deviant identity.
A woman is sentenced more harshly for neglecting her children than her male partner who committed the same crime. From a feminist criminology lens, what is happening here?
She is facing double deviance — punished both for breaking the law and for not meeting traditional gender expectations.
Two brothers were adopted into different families but both later developed similar patterns of theft and aggression. What conclusion could a biological theorist draw?
Their behaviour supports the idea that genetics influence criminal tendencies, as seen in twin and adoption studies.
A man lashes out violently after years of repressing anger toward his father. How would a Freudian psychologist explain this?
Repressed unconscious conflict surfacing — id impulses overriding ego/superego control.
A researcher studies how poverty and education levels predict crime rates. Which Positivist idea does this reflect?
Crime is shaped by social and environmental factors beyond control.
A young person avoids trouble because they’re on a basketball team and don’t want to disappoint their coach or parents. Which concept explains this?
Social Control Theory – strong attachments and involvement prevent deviance.
A youth from an Indigenous community is repeatedly denied bail while a non-Indigenous peer in the same situation is released. How might Indigenous perspectives explain this difference?
It reflects systemic discrimination and colonial bias in the justice system; solutions would include Gladue principles and restorative, community-based approaches.
A coach notices that many of the most aggressive players on his football team have broad shoulders and muscular builds. How could Sheldon’s research connect to this?
Somatotype theory links mesomorphic (muscular) body types with aggression and adventurous, risk-taking traits.
A youth commits theft repeatedly but insists others are “out to get him,” justifying his behaviour. Which defense mechanism might be at work?
Projection: Attributing one’s own hostile or deviant motives to others.
A correctional program treats offenders based on individual needs and psychological assessments. How does this reflect Positivism?
The punishment fits the criminal, emphasizing rehabilitation.
A student feels disconnected from school, judged unfairly by teachers, and rejected by peers. Over time, they vandalize the school. How would all three sociological theories interpret this situation differently?
Strain: blocked success leads to frustration → deviance.
Labelling: being judged reinforces deviance.
Social Control: weak bonds reduce conformity.
A criminologist argues that “shoplifting” gets media attention while corporate wage theft doesn’t. What would a critical criminologist say this shows about society’s definition of crime?
It shows crime definitions are socially constructed and focus on street crime over elite harm, serving those in power.
A group of inmates is tested and found to have significantly lower serotonin levels than average. How might neurochemistry explain their impulsive crimes?
Low serotonin is linked to poor mood regulation and aggression; diet or chemical imbalance may increase criminal behaviour.
Two inmates have similar charges, but one feels deep guilt while the other feels none and manipulates others easily. How do their personality structures differ?
The guilt-ridden one has a strong superego, while the manipulative one shows a weak or absent superego (psychopathic traits).
A criminologist argues both free will and outside influences affect crime. How would this perspective merge the two theories?
It integrates Classical and Positivist ideas, combining choice and determinism.
A group of youth from a low-income area face limited opportunities, are often labelled as “trouble,” and lack supportive adult relationships. Using the three sociological theories, explain how these combined factors could create a “cycle of crime.”
Strain: limited opportunity → pressure to offend.
Labelling: stigma reinforces deviance.
Social Control: weak bonds make crime easier.
Together → systemic cycle of crime and exclusion.
After learning about environmental destruction and corporate fraud, a student says, “Maybe we should redefine what counts as crime.” How does this reflect the critical perspective’s main goal?
It challenges dominant definitions of crime, calling for social justice and inclusion by recognizing state, environmental, and corporate harm as crimes too.
A researcher claims that 40% of criminals can be identified by facial features like sloping foreheads or large jaws. What danger does this claim present in modern criminology?
It reflects Lombroso’s flawed phrenology, promoting biological determinism and bias (racism) that ignore social/environmental factors.
A study finds offenders with untreated depression and substance use are more likely to reoffend. How does this connect to psychological theories of crime?
Comorbidity and poor mental health increase risk of offending; overlapping risk factors (impulsivity, social disadvantage) play a key role.