Assessing Key Criminological Ideas
Criminology's Explanation of Crime in Seven Key Theories
1st Edition
Published on 14. March 2014
Book
Hardback
300 pages
978-1-4419-0329-7 (ISBN)
Description
Assessing Key Criminological Ideas presents a uniquely comprehensive, critical look at seven major theories which lie at the core of criminology's explanation of crime and serve as popular platforms for criminological research.
The seven theories in the book include: Routine activity theory, Social disorganization theory, Self-control theory, Social bonds theory, Strain theory, Differential association theory, Labelling Theory.
The book's aim is to encourage critical thinking about these approaches to the explanation of crime by highlighting strengths and weaknesses which affect their applicability in research and our understanding of what causes, and may prevent, offending. The book also highlights central problems in criminological theorizing as a whole, with each chapter discussing how one prominent theory does or does not address these problems, presenting a synthesis of knowledge concerning key issues concerning in the explanation of crime.
Assessing Key Criminological Ideas draws upon multidisciplinary research to consider alternative interpretations and explanations for common theoretical and empirical observations regarding the causes of crime. Each chapter then applies its unique conclusions to a re-evaluation of implications for past and future research, and policy and prevention practices. The depth and breadth of these chapters, and the fundamental issues highlighted in each, mean it will appeal to criminologists at all levels, from those with an introductory interest in the groundwork and current innovations of the field, to high-ranking scholars who have worked with and even developed the theories discussed and are interested in seeing the field continue to advance.
The seven theories in the book include: Routine activity theory, Social disorganization theory, Self-control theory, Social bonds theory, Strain theory, Differential association theory, Labelling Theory.
The book's aim is to encourage critical thinking about these approaches to the explanation of crime by highlighting strengths and weaknesses which affect their applicability in research and our understanding of what causes, and may prevent, offending. The book also highlights central problems in criminological theorizing as a whole, with each chapter discussing how one prominent theory does or does not address these problems, presenting a synthesis of knowledge concerning key issues concerning in the explanation of crime.
Assessing Key Criminological Ideas draws upon multidisciplinary research to consider alternative interpretations and explanations for common theoretical and empirical observations regarding the causes of crime. Each chapter then applies its unique conclusions to a re-evaluation of implications for past and future research, and policy and prevention practices. The depth and breadth of these chapters, and the fundamental issues highlighted in each, mean it will appeal to criminologists at all levels, from those with an introductory interest in the groundwork and current innovations of the field, to high-ranking scholars who have worked with and even developed the theories discussed and are interested in seeing the field continue to advance.
More details
Persons
Per-Olof Wikström (PhD, Docent) is Professor of Ecological and Developmental Criminology at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology, UK. He served as Director of the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) Cambridge Network for the Study of the Social Contexts of Crime (SCoPiC, see www.scopic.ac.uk) and is Principal Investigator of the Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS). His key current research interests include crime causation, the social ecology of crime, adolescent offending, and crime prevention and policy. His recent publications include Adolescent crime: Individual differences and lifestyles and The explanation of crime: Contexts, mechanisms and development. In 1994 he received the Sellin-Glueck Award for outstanding contributions to international criminology from The American Society of Criminology and in 2002 he was elected a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
Professor Gerben J.N. Bruinsma (PhD), born in The Hague, studied sociology and criminology at Utrecht University. After his graduation in 1975, he became lecturer of criminology and penology at the Criminological Institute of the Radboud University Nijmegen. In 1981, he left for the Faculty of Public Administration and Public Policy at Twente University at Enschede. In 1985, he was appointed as associate professor in methodology and research methods. In the same year, he finished his doctoral dissertation 'Crime as a social process. A test of the differential association theory in the version of Karl-Dieter Opp.' He was co-founder and director of the International Police Institute at the University of Twente and in 1995 he became professor of criminology at that university. Since 1999, he has been director of the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), a national research institute of the National Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and a Professor of Criminology of the Faculty of Law of Leiden University. He has been editor of various journals and held a great number of advisory and board positions in the field. He has published many articles and books on criminological issues like criminological theory, juvenile delinquency, policing, organized crime and, geographic criminology.
Kyle H. Treiber (PhD) is a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology where she received the 2002-2003 Lopez-Rey Graduate Prize for her MPhil dissertation and subsequently completed her PhD on Executive Capabilities and Crime. She is currently working with the Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS), which is in its 7th year of longitudinal research, and teaching on the MPhil course. Her research interests include developmental criminology, neuroscience and behavioural and evolutionary psychology.
Professor Gerben J.N. Bruinsma (PhD), born in The Hague, studied sociology and criminology at Utrecht University. After his graduation in 1975, he became lecturer of criminology and penology at the Criminological Institute of the Radboud University Nijmegen. In 1981, he left for the Faculty of Public Administration and Public Policy at Twente University at Enschede. In 1985, he was appointed as associate professor in methodology and research methods. In the same year, he finished his doctoral dissertation 'Crime as a social process. A test of the differential association theory in the version of Karl-Dieter Opp.' He was co-founder and director of the International Police Institute at the University of Twente and in 1995 he became professor of criminology at that university. Since 1999, he has been director of the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), a national research institute of the National Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and a Professor of Criminology of the Faculty of Law of Leiden University. He has been editor of various journals and held a great number of advisory and board positions in the field. He has published many articles and books on criminological issues like criminological theory, juvenile delinquency, policing, organized crime and, geographic criminology.
Kyle H. Treiber (PhD) is a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology where she received the 2002-2003 Lopez-Rey Graduate Prize for her MPhil dissertation and subsequently completed her PhD on Executive Capabilities and Crime. She is currently working with the Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study (PADS), which is in its 7th year of longitudinal research, and teaching on the MPhil course. Her research interests include developmental criminology, neuroscience and behavioural and evolutionary psychology.
Content
Introduction (Wikström, Bruinsma & Treiber) - Chapter 1. Routine activity theory (Wikström) - Chapter 2. Social disorganization theory (Wikström) - Chapter 3. Self-control theory (Treiber) - Chapter 4. Social bonds theory (Treiber) - Chapter 5. Strain theory (Wikström & Treiber) Chapter 6. Differential association theory (Bruinsma) - Chapter 7. Labelling Theory (Bruinsma) - Conclusion (Wikström, Bruinsma & Treiber)