Vold's Theoretical Criminology

by Bernard, Thomas J.; Snipes, Jeffrey B.; Gerould, Alexander L.

• ISBN13: 9780195386417
• ISBN10: 0195386418
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-04-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Vold's Theoretical Criminology, Sixth Edition, presents the most precise, up-to-date, and comprehensive overview of criminological theory available, building on the foundation of George B. Vold's Theoretical Criminology, which paved the way for a generation of criminological theorists. Coupled with new, student-friendly features, the sixth edition features expanded discussions of: empirical research within specific theories; the "biosocial" approach; theoretical explanations for gendered differences in crime; low self-control and the general theory of crime; Control Balance Theory; and General Strain Theory. In addition, the text covers such new topical areas as Lonnie Athens's Theory of "Violentization;" Agnew's General Theory; Zimbardo's "Lucifer Effect;" the Cambridge Youth Violence Study; and Coercion and Social Support. Offering improved pedagogy--including new Key Terms lists and end-of-chapter Discussion Questions--this new edition also presents additional material on policy implications.

Author Biography

Thomas J. Bernard is Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Pennsylvania State University.
Jeffrey B. Snipes is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University.
Alex B. Gerould is a full-time faculty member in the Criminal Justice Studies Department at San Francisco State University.
The late George B. Vold was Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Theory and Crime	p. 1
Spiritual Explanations	p. 1
Natural Explanations	p. 3
Scientific Theories	p. 4
Causation in Scientific Theories	p. 4
Three Frames of Reference	p. 7
Relationships Among the Three Frames of Reference	p. 8
Key Terms	p. 10
Discussion Questions	p. 10
Classical Criminology	p. 14
The Social and Intellectual Background of Classical Criminology	p. 14
Beccaria and the Classical School	p. 16
From Classical Theory to Deterrence Research	p. 18
Three Types of Deterrence Research	p. 20
Rational Choice and Offending	p. 24
Routine Activities and Victimization	p. 26
Conclusions	p. 28
Key Terms	p. 28
Discussion Questions	p. 29
Biological Factors and Criminal Behavior	p. 37
Background: Physical Appearance and Defectiveness	p. 37
Lombroso, the "Born Criminal" and Positivist Criminology	p. 38
Goring's Refutation of the "Born Criminal"	p. 40
Body Type Theories	p. 41
Family Studies	p. 43
Twin and Adoption Studies	p. 44
Neurotransmitters	p. 47
Hormones	p. 48
The Central Nervous System	p. 49
The Autonomic Nervous System	p. 50
Environmentally Induced Biological Components of Behavior	p. 52
Implications and Conclusions	p. 55
Key Terms	p. 56
Discussion Questions	p. 56
Psychological Factors and Criminal Behavior	p. 65
Intelligence and Crime: Background Ideas and Concepts	p. 66
IQ Tests and Criminal Behavior	p. 66
Delinquency, Race, and IQ	p. 69
Interpreting the Association between Delinquency and IQ	p. 71
Personality and Criminal Behavior	p. 72
Psychopathy and Antisocial Personality Disorder	p. 74
Clinical Prediction of Future Dangerousness	p. 75
Actuarial Prediction of Later Crime and Delinquency	p. 76
Depression and Delinquency	p. 77
Impulsivity and Crime	p. 78
Policy Implications of Personality Research	p. 81
Conclusions	p. 82
Key Terms	p. 83
Discussion Questions	p. 83
Crime and Poverty	p. 93
Historical Background: Guerry and Quetelet	p. 93
Research on Crime and Poverty: Contradictions and Disagreements	p. 97
Crime and Unemployment: A Detailed Look at Research	p. 99
Problems Interpreting Research on Crime and Economic Conditions	p. 101
Implications and Conclusions	p. 106
Key Terms	p. 107
Discussion Questions	p. 107
Durkheim, Anomie, and Modernization	p. 115
Emile Durkheim	p. 116
Crime as Normal in Mechanical Societies	p. 117
Anomie as a Pathological State in Organic Societies	p. 120
Durkheim's Theory of Crime	p. 123
Conclusion	p. 127
Key Terms	p. 128
Discussion Questions	p. 129
Neighborhoods and Crime	p. 133
The Theory of Human Ecology	p. 133
Research in the "Delinquency Areas" of Chicago	p. 136
Policy Implications	p. 139
Residential Succession, Social Disorganization, and Crime	p. 141
Sampson's Theory of Collective Efficacy	p. 142
Expanding Interest in Neighborhood Social Processes	p. 146
Implications and Conclusions	p. 147
Key Terms	p. 148
Discussion Questions	p. 149
Strain Theories	p. 154
Robert K. Merton and Anomie in American Society	p. 154
Strain as the Explanation of Gang Delinquency	p. 159
1960s Strain-Based Policies	p. 162
The Decline and Resurgence of Strain Theories	p. 162
Strain in Individuals	p. 164
Strain in Societies	p. 167
Conclusion	p. 170
Key Terms	p. 171
Discussion Questions	p. 171
Learning Theories	p. 177
Basic Psychological Approaches to Learning	p. 178
Sutherland's Differential Association Theory	p. 179
Research Testing Sutherland's Theory	p. 182
The Content of Learning: Cultural and Subcultural Theories	p. 184
The Learning Process: Social Learning Theory	p. 189
Athens's Theory of "Violentization"	p. 191
Implications	p. 193
Conclusions	p. 194
Key Terms	p. 195
Discussion Questions	p. 196
Control Theories	p. 203
Early Control Theories: Reiss to Nye	p. 203
Matza's Delinquency and Drift	p. 206
Hirschi's Social Control Theory	p. 208
Assessing Social Control Theory	p. 211
Gottfredson and Hirschi's A General Theory of Crime	p. 213
Assessing Gottfredson and Hirschi's General Theory	p. 214
Implications and Conclusions	p. 218
Key Terms	p. 219
Discussion Questions	p. 220
The Meaning of Crime	p. 226
The Meaning of Crime to the Self: Labeling Theory	p. 227
The Meaning of Crime to the Criminal: Katz's Seductions of Crime	p. 231
The Situational Meaning of Crime: Zimbardo's Lucifer Effect	p. 233
The Meaning of Crime to the Larger Society: Deviance and Social Reaction	p. 235
State Power and the Meaning of Crime: Controlology	p. 237
Implications and Conclusions	p. 239
Key Terms	p. 240
Discussion Questions	p. 240
Conflict Criminology	p. 246
Early Conflict Theories: Sellin and Vold	p. 247
Conflict Theories in a Time of Conflict: Turk, Quinney, and Chambliss and Seidman	p. 249
Black's Theory of the Behavior of Law	p. 253
A Unified Conflict Theory of Crime	p. 256
Testing Conflict Criminology	p. 258
Implications and Conclusions	p. 261
Key Terms	p. 262
Discussion Questions	p. 262
Marxism and Postmodern Criminology	p. 267
Overview of Marx's Theory	p. 268
Marx on Crime, Criminal Law, and Criminal Justice	p. 269
The Emergence of Marxist Criminology	p. 271
Marxist Theory and Research on Crime	p. 272
Overview of Postmodernism	p. 275
Postmodern Criminology	p. 277
Conclusion	p. 279
Key Terms	p. 280
Discussion Questions	p. 280
Gender and Crime	p. 287
The Development of Feminist Criminology	p. 287
Schools of Feminist Criminology	p. 289
Gender in Criminology	p. 291
Why are Women's Crime Rates So Low?	p. 293
Why are Men's Crime Rates So High?	p. 295
Conclusions	p. 298
Key Terms	p. 299
Discussion Questions	p. 299
Developmental Theories	p. 305
The Great Debate: Criminal Careers, Longitudinal Research, and the Relationship Between Age and Crime	p. 306
Criminal Propensity Versus Criminal Career	p. 308
The Transition to Developmental Criminology	p. 311
Three Developmental Directions	p. 314
Thornberry's Interactional Theory	p. 314
Sampson and Laub's Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control	p. 316
Tremblay's Developmental Origins of Physical Aggression	p. 319
Conclusions	p. 320
Key Terms	p. 321
Discussion Questions	p. 321
Integrated Theories	p. 327
Elliott's Integrated Theory of Delinquency and Drug Use	p. 327
The Falsification versus Integration Debate	p. 329
Braithwaite's Theory of Reintegrative Shaming	p. 330
Tittle's Control Balance Theory	p. 332
Coercion and Social Support	p. 335
Bernard and Snipes's Approach to Integrating Criminology Theories	p. 337
Agnew's General Theory	p. 340
Conclusion	p. 341
Key Terms	p. 342
Discussion Questions	p. 342
Assessing Criminology Theories	p. 346
Science, Theory, Research, and Policy	p. 346
Individual Difference Theories	p. 348
Structure/Process Theories	p. 354
Theories of the Behavior of Criminal Law	p. 360
Conclusion	p. 364
Index	p. 367
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