Tutorial letter 201/1/2026 CMY1501 Introduction to Criminology: Crime, Offenders and Criminal Behaviour (Answers)

Tutorial letter 201/1/2025 Introduction to Criminology: Crime, Offenders and Criminal Behaviour CMY1501 Semester 1 

1.            Human beings are studied in terms of biological, psychological and social dimensions. The psychological dimension includes the:

A       Genetic make-up, ability to function and the emotional or the affective component

B       Ability to function, the cognitive and volitional components

C       Cognitive, emotional, or affective component and the volitional component

D       Affective component, genetic make-up, and ability to function

ANSWER:  C; See 4.1.1 Introduction, page 137.

2.            Which school of criminology challenges the notion of an absolute free will and argues that free will is inhibited by incompetence, mental disorder, or pathology?

A       Classical school

B       Neo-classical school

C       Positivist school

D       Critical school

ANSWER:  B; See 1,2,5 The Neo-classical school, page 22.

3.      When explaining crime, it is evident that many causes of poor self-control are rooted in …

A       poor socialising practices. B       cognitive deficiencies.

C)      poor child-rearing practices. D)      hereditary factors.

ANSWER:  C; See 4.4.6.1 Poor child-rearing practices, page 192.

4.            This theory is based on a hierarchy of needs ranging from basic physiological needs to the need for self-actualisation or fulfilment.

A       Hirschi’s theory. B       Maslow’s theory C       Bandura’s theory D       Tittle’s theory

ANSWER:  B; See 3.2.5 The process of motivation, page 97.

 5.      The code of crime list is used for the classification of crime in South Africa, and it consists of …categories.

A       38

B       26

C       42

D       35

ANSWER:  D; See 2.1.2 Key concepts, page 45.

6.            Factors   specifically   associated   with   criminal   activities,   such   as   crime,   offending   and delinquency refer to:

A       Personality trait

B       Emotional deficiencies

C       Criminogenic risk factors

D       Environmental influences

ANSWER:  C; See 3.3.2 Key concepts, page 112.

7.            Needs  generate  wants,  desires  and  aspirations, which  motivate  behaviour. In  this  regard, Reeve (2009) distinguishes between …

A             psychosocial, biological, and social needs. B         social, biological and psychological needs.

C       biological, psychosocial and internal stimuli needs. D       psychological, internal stimuli and biological needs. ANSWER: B; See 4.1.4.2 Emotional component, page 148.

8.      Determinism is an assumption of positivism that believes that:

A             Individual differences in behaviour are rooted in factors beyond, or at least not entirely within, the control of individuals.

B       Individuals select actions and can be held responsible for their actions.

C             Individuals are not entirely in control of their actions; however, they can be held responsible for their behaviour.

D             Individuals  are  not  entirely  in  control  of  their  actions,  and  they  weigh  the  benefits  and consequences of their actions before making decisions.

ANSWER:  A; See 4.1.2 Key concepts, page 137.

9.            In both national and international law, the definition of a juvenile is directly or indirectly linked to age. The Correctional Services Act 8 of 1959 refers to a juvenile as a person under the age of:

A       18 years B       16 years C       25 years D       21 years

ANSWER:  D; See 3.1.2 Key concepts, page 76.

10.    Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) argue in their general theory of crime that indicators of …and … play a vital role in the determination of antisocial and criminal behaviour.

A       impulsiveness, poor self-control, inadequate child rearing practices

B       criminal peer associations, substance abuse, impulsiveness

C       mental disorders, inadequate child rearing practices, poor self-control D       criminal peer associations, mental disorders, impulsiveness ANSWER:  A; See 4.4.7.1 Empirical support, page 195.