Criminografie VIVES Mastery Exam 350 Questions & Clinical
Rationales
High-yield practice exam for Criminografie at VIVES Kortrij.
Covers the Classical/Positivist schools, Belgian statistics
(Veiligheidsmonitor), and environmental crime theories.
Includes correct answers in bold italics and clinical
rationales for each answer.
1. Who is considered the father of the "Classical School" of criminology, focusing on free
will and deterrence?
A. Cesare Lombroso
B. Cesare Beccaria
Rationale: Beccaria argued that humans are rational beings who weigh costs and
benefits; therefore, punishment should be certain and swift to deter crime.
C. Emile Durkheim
D. Jeremy Bentham
2. The "Positivist School" differs from the Classical School because it assumes:
A. Criminals choose to commit crimes freely.
B. Criminal behavior is determined by biological, psychological, or social factors.
Rationale: Positivists believe in determinism—that internal or external forces beyond an
individual's control drive criminal behavior.
C. Punishment should be as harsh as possible.
D. Laws are social contracts.
3. Cesare Lombroso’s theory of the "Atavistic Throwback" suggests that:
A. Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks with physical "stigmata."
, Rationale: Lombroso believed criminals were biological misfits identifiable by physical
traits like large jaws or long arms.
B. Crime is learned from peers.
C. Poverty is the only cause of crime.
D. All people are born equal.
Section 2: Crime Statistics & Measurement
4. What is the "Dark Number" (Donker getal) in criminology?
A. The total number of murders in a year.
B. The amount of crime that is committed but never reported or recorded.
Rationale: Official statistics only show recorded crime; the dark number represents the
gap between reality and official data.
C. Crimes committed at night.
D. The number of unsolved cold cases.
5. Which tool is specifically used by criminologists to uncover the "Dark Number"?
A. Police registers (Pols)
B. Victimization surveys (Slachtofferenquêtes)
Rationale: By asking citizens if they have been victims, researchers find crimes that
were never reported to the police.
C. Judicial statistics
D. Prison records
6. The "Funnel Effect" (Trechtermodel) in the criminal justice system illustrates that:
A. Only a small fraction of committed crimes lead to a final court sentence.
Rationale: Cases are filtered out at each stage (reporting, investigation, prosecution,
sentencing), leaving very few at the end.
B. Crime is increasing every year.
C. Police are always efficient.
D. Prisons are too small.
Section 3: Sociological Theories
7. Emile Durkheim used the term "Anomie" to describe a state of:
A. Extreme wealth.
B. Normlessness or social instability during rapid change.
Rationale: Anomie occurs when social regulations break down, leading individuals to
lose their sense of belonging or boundaries.
C. High intelligence.
, D. Absolute political control.
8. Robert Merton’s "Strain Theory" suggests crime occurs when there is a gap between:
A. Cultural goals (success) and the legitimate means to achieve them.
Rationale: When people cannot achieve the "American Dream" legally, they may turn to
"Innovation" (crime) to reach it.
B. The police and the public.
C. Parents and children.
D. Genetics and environment.
9. According to the "Differential Association Theory" (Sutherland), criminal behavior is:
A. Inherited from parents.
B. Learned through interaction with others in intimate groups.
Rationale: People become delinquent because they are exposed to more definitions
favorable to violating the law than unfavorable ones.
C. A result of brain tumors.
D. Caused by low self-esteem only.
10. The "Broken Windows Theory" emphasizes the importance of:
A. Addressing minor physical disorder to prevent serious crime.
Rationale: If a window is left broken, it signals that no one cares, encouraging further
disorder and eventually serious crime.
B. Fixing houses for the poor.
C. Increasing prison sentences for life.
D. Using DNA evidence in all cases.
Section 4: Victimology & Routine Activity
11. The "Routine Activity Theory" (Cohen & Felson) requires three elements for a
crime to occur. Which is NOT one of them?
A. A motivated offender.
B. A suitable target.
C. A social worker.
Rationale: The third element is the absence of a capable guardian. If a guardian is
present, crime is less likely.
D. Absence of a capable guardian.
12. "Secondary Victimization" refers to:
A. Being robbed a second time.
B. The insensitive treatment of victims by the police or legal system.
Rationales
High-yield practice exam for Criminografie at VIVES Kortrij.
Covers the Classical/Positivist schools, Belgian statistics
(Veiligheidsmonitor), and environmental crime theories.
Includes correct answers in bold italics and clinical
rationales for each answer.
1. Who is considered the father of the "Classical School" of criminology, focusing on free
will and deterrence?
A. Cesare Lombroso
B. Cesare Beccaria
Rationale: Beccaria argued that humans are rational beings who weigh costs and
benefits; therefore, punishment should be certain and swift to deter crime.
C. Emile Durkheim
D. Jeremy Bentham
2. The "Positivist School" differs from the Classical School because it assumes:
A. Criminals choose to commit crimes freely.
B. Criminal behavior is determined by biological, psychological, or social factors.
Rationale: Positivists believe in determinism—that internal or external forces beyond an
individual's control drive criminal behavior.
C. Punishment should be as harsh as possible.
D. Laws are social contracts.
3. Cesare Lombroso’s theory of the "Atavistic Throwback" suggests that:
A. Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks with physical "stigmata."
, Rationale: Lombroso believed criminals were biological misfits identifiable by physical
traits like large jaws or long arms.
B. Crime is learned from peers.
C. Poverty is the only cause of crime.
D. All people are born equal.
Section 2: Crime Statistics & Measurement
4. What is the "Dark Number" (Donker getal) in criminology?
A. The total number of murders in a year.
B. The amount of crime that is committed but never reported or recorded.
Rationale: Official statistics only show recorded crime; the dark number represents the
gap between reality and official data.
C. Crimes committed at night.
D. The number of unsolved cold cases.
5. Which tool is specifically used by criminologists to uncover the "Dark Number"?
A. Police registers (Pols)
B. Victimization surveys (Slachtofferenquêtes)
Rationale: By asking citizens if they have been victims, researchers find crimes that
were never reported to the police.
C. Judicial statistics
D. Prison records
6. The "Funnel Effect" (Trechtermodel) in the criminal justice system illustrates that:
A. Only a small fraction of committed crimes lead to a final court sentence.
Rationale: Cases are filtered out at each stage (reporting, investigation, prosecution,
sentencing), leaving very few at the end.
B. Crime is increasing every year.
C. Police are always efficient.
D. Prisons are too small.
Section 3: Sociological Theories
7. Emile Durkheim used the term "Anomie" to describe a state of:
A. Extreme wealth.
B. Normlessness or social instability during rapid change.
Rationale: Anomie occurs when social regulations break down, leading individuals to
lose their sense of belonging or boundaries.
C. High intelligence.
, D. Absolute political control.
8. Robert Merton’s "Strain Theory" suggests crime occurs when there is a gap between:
A. Cultural goals (success) and the legitimate means to achieve them.
Rationale: When people cannot achieve the "American Dream" legally, they may turn to
"Innovation" (crime) to reach it.
B. The police and the public.
C. Parents and children.
D. Genetics and environment.
9. According to the "Differential Association Theory" (Sutherland), criminal behavior is:
A. Inherited from parents.
B. Learned through interaction with others in intimate groups.
Rationale: People become delinquent because they are exposed to more definitions
favorable to violating the law than unfavorable ones.
C. A result of brain tumors.
D. Caused by low self-esteem only.
10. The "Broken Windows Theory" emphasizes the importance of:
A. Addressing minor physical disorder to prevent serious crime.
Rationale: If a window is left broken, it signals that no one cares, encouraging further
disorder and eventually serious crime.
B. Fixing houses for the poor.
C. Increasing prison sentences for life.
D. Using DNA evidence in all cases.
Section 4: Victimology & Routine Activity
11. The "Routine Activity Theory" (Cohen & Felson) requires three elements for a
crime to occur. Which is NOT one of them?
A. A motivated offender.
B. A suitable target.
C. A social worker.
Rationale: The third element is the absence of a capable guardian. If a guardian is
present, crime is less likely.
D. Absence of a capable guardian.
12. "Secondary Victimization" refers to:
A. Being robbed a second time.
B. The insensitive treatment of victims by the police or legal system.
