Theoretical Criminology

by Vold, George B.; Bernard, Thomas J.; Snipes, Jeffrey B.

• ISBN13: 9780195142020
• ISBN10: 0195142020
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-12-06
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Theoretical Criminology, the standard text in its field, has been extensively revised and completely updated. The fifth edition offers new sections on causation in scientific theories, Sampson's theory of collective efficacy, and Anderson's "code of the street." A new chapter on contemporaryclassicism includes sections on deterrence theory and research, routine activities theory, and rational choice theory. Also included is a new chapter that examines the role of gender in criminology theories, covering feminist criminology and theories of masculinity and crime. Each theory ispresented accurately and comprehensively within its historical context. Relevant empirical research is reviewed and assessed, and research issues related to theory testing are also discussed. Lively and engaging, this new edition is designed to appeal to students at all levels. Offering the mostprecise, clear, and thorough presentation of criminology theories, Theoretical Criminology retains its premier position in the field of criminology.

Table of Contents

Theory and Crime	1	(13)
Spiritual Explanations
Natural Explanations
Scientific Theories
Causation in Scientific Theories
Classical Criminology
Positivist Criminology
The Behavior of Criminal Law
The Relationship Among the Various Frames of Reference
Classical and Positivist Criminology	14	(17)
The Social and Intellectual Background of Classical Criminology
Beccaria and the Classical School
The Transition to Positivist Criminology
Guerry and Quetelet
Cesare Lombroso
The Relation Between Positivist and Classical Theories
Conclusion
Biological Factors and Criminal Behavior	31	(24)
Physical Appearance: Defectiveness
Physical Appearance: Body Type
Family Studies
Twin and Adoption Studies
Neurotransmitters
Hormones
The Central Nervous System
The Autonomic Nervous System
Environmentally Induced Biological Components of Behavior
Implications and Conclusions
Psychological Factors and Criminal Behavior	55	(29)
Intelligence and Crime: Background Ideas and Concepts
IQ Tests and Criminal Behavior
Delinquency, Race, and IQ
Interpreting the Association Between Delinquency and IQ
Policy Implications of the IQ
Delinquency Link
Personality and Criminal Behavior
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Psychiatric Predictions of Future Dangerousness
Early Childhood Predictors of Later Crime and Delinquency
Impulsivity and Crime
Policy Implications of Personality Research
Conclusions
Crime and Economic Conditions	84	(16)
Research on Crime and Economic Conditions: Contradictions and Disagreements
Crime and Unemployment: A Detailed Look at Research
Problems Interpreting Research on Crime and Economic Conditions
Implications and Conclusions
Durkheim, Anomie, and Modernization	100	(17)
Emile Durkheim
Crime as Normal in Mechanical Societies
Anomie as a Pathological State in Organic Societies
Assessing Durkheim's Theory of Crime
Conclusion
Neighborhoods and Crime	117	(18)
The Theory of Human Ecology
Research in the ``Delinquency Areas'' of Chicago
Policy Implications
Residential Succession, Social Disorganization, and Crime
Sampson's Theory of Collective Efficacy
Implications and Conclusions
Strain Theories	135	(19)
Robert K. Merton and Anomie in American Society
Strain as the Explanation of Gang Delinquency
Policy Implications
The Decline and Resurgence of Strain Theories
Strain in Individuals and in Societies: Negative Emotions and Institutional Anomie
Conclusion
Learning Theories	154	(23)
Basic Psychological Approaches to Learning
Tarde's Laws of Imitation
Sutherland's Differential Association Theory
Research Testing Sutherland's Theory
The Content of Learning: Cultural and Subcultural Theories
The Learning Process: Social Learning Theory
Implications
Conclusions
Control Theories	177	(19)
Early Control Theories: Reiss to Nye
Matza's Delinquency and Drift
Hirschi's Social Control Theory
Assessing Social Control Theory
Gottfredson and Hirschi's A General Theory of Crime
Assessing Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory
Implications and Conclusions
Contemporary Classicism: Deterrence, Routine Activities, and Rational Choice	196	(13)
Early Deterrence Theory and Research
Three Types of Deterrence Research
Rational Choice and Offending
Routine Activities and Victimization
Routine Activities and Modernization
Conclusions
The Meaning of Crime	209	(18)
The Meaning of Crime to the Self: Labeling Theory
The Meaning of Crime to the Criminal: Katz's Seductions of Crime
The Meaning of Crime to the Larger Society: Deviance and Social Reaction
State Power and the Meaning of Crime: Controlology
Implications and Conclusions
Conflict Criminology	227	(21)
Early Conflict Theories: Sellin and Vold
Conflict Theories in a Time of Conflict: Turk, Quinney, and Chambliss and Seidman
Black's Theory of the Behavior of Law
A Unified Conflict Theory of Crime
Testing Conflict Criminology
Implications and Conclusions
Marxist and Postmodern Criminology	248	(19)
Overview of Marx's Theory
Marx on Crime, Criminal Law, and Criminal Justice
The Emergence of Marxist Criminology
Marxist Theory and Research on Crime
Overview of Postmodernism
Postmodern Criminology
Conclusion
Gender and Crime	267	(16)
The Development of Feminist Criminology
Schools of Feminist Criminology
Gender in Criminology
Why Are Women's Crime Rates So Low?
Why Are Men's Crime Rates So High?
Conclusions
Age and Crime	283	(18)
The Great Debate: Criminal Careers, Longitudinal Research, and the Relationship Between Age and Crime
Criminal Propensity vs. Criminal Career
The Transition to Developmental Criminology
Thornberry's Interactional Theory
Sampson and Laub's Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control
Conclusions
Integrated Theories	301	(17)
Elliott's Integrated Theory of Delinquency and Drug Use
The Falsification vs. Integration Debate
Braithwaite's Theory of Reintegrative Shaming
Tittle's Control Balance Theory
Vila's General Paradigm
Bernard and Snipes's Approach to Integrating Criminology Theories
Conclusion
Assessing Criminology Theories	318	(21)
Science, Theory, Research, and Policy
Individual Difference Theories
Structure/Process Theories
Theories of the Behavior of Criminal Law
Conclusion
Index	339