Final answer:
Classical criminology considers criminal behavior as rational rather than irrational. It suggests people engage in crime after rationally weighing out the costs and benefits. The surety, swiftness and severity of punishment are considered deterrents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that classical criminology holds that criminal behavior is irrational is actually False. Classical criminology, which is associated with the works of moral philosophers like Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, posited that people have free will and engage in criminal behavior after making a rational decision weighing the costs and benefits of their actions. The theory suggests that the surety, swiftness, and severity of punishment can deter people from committing crimes. Thus, in this theory, criminal behavior is considered as a rational behavior rather than an irrational one.
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