Theories of Crime

by Curran, Daniel J.; Renzetti, Claire M.

• ISBN13: 9780205275885
• ISBN10: 0205275885
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-13
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book surveys the major theoretical perspectives in criminology, including biological/physiological theories, psychological/psychiatric theories, and sociological theories of crime.Each chapter provides a balanced overview, examining each theory in the context of empirical research that tests it. New chapters have been added, focusing on areas such as feminist theories of crime, the routine activities theory, control balance theory, and a chapter focusing on providing greater coverage of conflict radical theories, including left realism, peacemaking criminology, and postmodern criminology.For anyone involved in criminology studies.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Theoretical Perspectives in Criminology	1	(26)
The Importance of Theory in Criminology	1	(3)
Bad Theory, Good Theory, Better Theory: How Do We Judge?	2	(2)
Paradigms	4	(19)
Classical Criminology	6	(9)
The Positivist School	15	(2)
The Marxist Paradigm	17	(6)
Summary and Conclusion	23	(2)
Key Terms	25	(1)
Suggested Readings	25	(1)
Notes	25	(2)
The Born Criminal: Biological and Psychological Theories of Crime	27	(40)
Physical Type Theories	28	(12)
Phrenology: Grandparent of the Physical Type Perspective	28	(1)
Atavism	29	(4)
Earnest A. Hooton: Lombroso Revisited	33	(2)
Body Build and Crime	35	(5)
It Runs in the Family: Crime and Heredity	40	(6)
General Pedigree or Family Studies	41	(1)
Twin Studies	42	(2)
Adoption Studies	44	(2)
Family Chromosomes	46	(3)
XYY Syndrome	48	(1)
Other Potential Biological Contributors to Crime Causation	49	(14)
Hormonal Imbalance and Crime: ``My Hormones Made Me Do It''	50	(4)
Crime and the Brain	54	(7)
Diet and Crime: You Are What You Eat?	61	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	63	(1)
Key Terms	63	(1)
Suggested Readings	64	(1)
Notes	64	(3)
The Criminal Mind: Psychological and Psychiatric Theories of Crime	67	(32)
Too Dumb to Know Better: The IQ/Crime Controversy	67	(7)
Early Intelligence Tests and Crime	68	(6)
The Criminal Personality	74	(9)
Psychoanalytic Views of Crime	74	(5)
Other Approaches to Crime and Personality	79	(4)
Crime and Mental Illness	83	(9)
Studying Mental Illness and Criminality	84	(4)
Mental Illnesses Commonly Associated with Crime	88	(2)
A Note about the Role of Drugs and Alcohol	90	(2)
The Role of Psychiatry in the Criminal Justice System	92	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	93	(1)
Key Terms	94	(1)
Suggested Readings	94	(1)
Notes	95	(4)
Sociological Theories of Crime I: Crime and Social Organization	99	(36)
The Chicago School	99	(11)
Crime and Social Disorganization	101	(4)
The Chicago School's Descendants	105	(5)
Anomie Theory	110	(8)
Durkheim's Theory of Anomie	110	(4)
Merton's Theory of Anomie	114	(4)
Subcultural Theories	118	(5)
Cohen's Theory of Delinquent Subculture	118	(2)
Other Subcultural Theories	120	(2)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Subcultural Theories	122	(1)
Crime and Opportunity	123	(5)
Differential Opportunity and Delinquent Subcultures	124	(1)
Women, Crime, and Opportunity	125	(3)
Changing the Opportunity Structure: Public Policy Initiatives	128	(2)
Agnew's General Strain Theory	130	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	132	(1)
Key Terms	133	(1)
Suggested Readings	133	(1)
Notes	133	(2)
Sociological Theories of Crime II: Crime and Social Processes	135	(48)
Sutherland's Differential Association Theory	135	(8)
Sutherland's Nine Propositions	137	(1)
Strengths and Weaknesses of Differential Association Theory	137	(6)
Sutherland's Legacy	143	(4)
Akers's Social Learning Theory	143	(2)
Differential Identification and Differential Anticipation	145	(2)
Control Theory	147	(13)
Hirschi's Control Theory	147	(11)
Tittle's Control Balance Theory	158	(2)
Self-Control and Crime	160	(6)
A General Theory of Crime or a Limited One?	163	(3)
Neutralization Theory	166	(5)
Evaluating Neutralization Theory	168	(3)
Self-Esteem and Crime	171	(1)
Crime and Stigma: The Labeling Perspective	172	(7)
The Relativity of Crime	173	(2)
Social Reaction and Commitment to a Deviant Career	175	(1)
The Empirical Validity of Labeling Theory	176	(1)
What Is to Be Done?	177	(2)
Summary and Conclusion	179	(1)
Key Terms	180	(1)
Suggested Readings	180	(1)
Notes	181	(2)
Crime and Power: Radical Crimonologies	183	(26)
Origins and Antecedents	183	(4)
The Criminology of Willem Bonger	185	(2)
Early Radical Criminology	187	(7)
Crime and Privilege	187	(1)
Crime and Oppression	188	(2)
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Instrumental Marxism	190	(1)
Is the Criminal Justice System Biased against the Poor?	191	(3)
Structural Criminology	194	(3)
Crime and Power Relations	196	(1)
Other Recent Developments in Radical Crimonology	197	(8)
Left Realism	197	(2)
Peacemaking Crimonology	199	(3)
Postmodern Crimonology	202	(3)
Summary and Conclusion	205	(1)
Key Terms	205	(1)
Suggested Readings	206	(1)
Notes	206	(3)
Gender, Crime, and Justice: Feminist Criminologies	209	(20)
What Is Feminism?	210	(2)
Liberal Feminism and Criminology	212	(7)
The Gender Gap in Crime	213	(1)
Power-Control Theory	213	(6)
Radical Feminist Criminology	219	(4)
Socialist Feminist Criminology	223	(3)
Feminism and the Future of Criminology	226	(1)
Summary and Conclusion	227	(1)
Key Terms	227	(1)
Suggested Readings	228	(1)
Notes	228	(1)
Appendix: Methods of Criminological Research	229	(19)
The Research Process	229	(1)
Formulating the Research Problem	230	(1)
Research Design	231	(8)
Sampling	232	(4)
Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement	236	(3)
Gathering Data	239	(6)
Survey Research	239	(2)
Field Observation	241	(1)
Unobtrusive Measures	241	(4)
Summary and Conclusion	245	(1)
Key Terms	246	(1)
Suggested Readings	246	(1)
Notes	247	(1)
References	248	(24)
Index	272