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What did early nonscientific theories emphasize as the cause of criminality?

A) Biological factors
B) Social environment
C) Supernatural forces
D) Economic inequality

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Early nonscientific theories attributed criminality to supernatural forces, rather than biological, social, or economic factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

Early nonscientific theories often emphasized supernatural forces as the cause of criminality, which is answer C). These theories posited that criminal behavior was not the result of the individual's nature or choices but rather due to external, mystical influences. Pre-enlightenment thinking frequently attributed deviant behavior to supernatural or religious causes, such as possession by evil spirits, curses, or divine punishment for sin.

Contrastingly, contemporary sociological theories, such as social disorganization theory and conflict theory, suggest that crime and deviance are the result of social and economic factors. Social disorganization theory posits that a person becomes prone to committing crimes based on factors in their social environment. Conflict theory, influenced by the work of Karl Marx, argues that crime is a result of socio-economic inequalities within society.

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