Question

EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLASSICAL AND POSITIVIST SCHOOLS ?

Answer 1

Difference between the classical and positivist schools

Classical Schools	Positivist Schools
The classical school developed during the Enlightenment in response to excessive and cruel punishments to crime.	The positivist school opposed the classical school’s understanding of crime.
classical school of criminology was invented in the eighteenth century	positivism understanding of crime was introduced throughout the nineteenth century
classical theory also forced the rule of law and individual dignity, thus criminals were no longer exposed to retribution without originally being convicted by a legal judge in court	Purpose of positivist school was to apply a scientific technique to control criminological explanations of crime. As an outcome, positivist theorists were concerned with the sociological, psychological, and biological where the major causes of criminal behaviour. established a biological difference among non-criminals and criminals
classical school is mainly based on free will and suggests that crime as a choice	positivism criminology argues that crime is not a choice.
Classicists perceived no major difference between criminals and non-criminals.	distinction drawn between criminals and non-criminals in positivists school
classical theorists debated that criminals did not need to be killed for a serious crimes, and thus believed that people would not commit a crime of the punishment was certain and swift.	positivists discussed that crime was not a choice, so criminals were not held accountable for their criminal actions . the positivist school highlighted that because crime was a form a disease, criminals had to be treated, rather than disciplined by law
individual is free to choose their individual actions, they must also admit the significance of their choices. criminals freely select to commit a crime with full knowledge concerning the cost and benefits of their behaviour	positivism is based on deterministic theories which clarify that all events are caused by inner or outer factors that are beyond a person’s control. As an outcome, this removes the view of free-will and concludes that the offender had no choice prior to committing a certain crime. Furthermore, positivist school of criminology stresses that behaviour is determined by sociological, psychological, and biological factors which are also beyond an individual’s control.