Question

the positivist school of criminology posits that human behavior is determined by forces beyond individual control. anomie is a breakdown of social order, which causes people to commit crimes. all human actions are determined in accordance with the felicific calculus. individuals choose to commit crimes after weighing the consequences of their actions.

Explanation:

The positivist school of criminology focuses on the idea that criminal behavior is determined by external factors (like biological, psychological, or social forces) beyond an individual's free will. Let's analyze each option:

• Option 1: "human behavior is determined by forces beyond individual control" matches the positivist criminology's core idea that crime is caused by factors outside personal choice.
• Option 2: Anomie (breakdown of social order causing crime) is more associated with the strain theory (part of sociological criminology but not the core of positivist criminology's general stance on determinism by external forces).
• Option 3: "all human actions are determined in accordance with the felicific calculus" refers to utilitarianism's calculation of pleasure/pain, not positivist criminology.
• Option 4: "individuals choose to commit crimes after weighing the consequences" is the rational choice theory, which is more about free will and choice, opposite to positivist determinism.

Answer:

A. human behavior is determined by forces beyond individual control