Soztheo.com
Theories of Crime and Society Explained.
Accessible resources on criminology, sociology, and critical perspectives.
Welcome to soztheo.com
Soztheo.com offers rigorous yet accessible explanations of crime theories and key works in sociology and criminology.
Theories of Crime
Explore major theories of crime and deviance. Understand classical, contemporary, and critical approaches to explaining criminal behaviour.
Key Works in Criminology
Discover essential texts that shaped criminology. Foundational works offering deep insights into crime, punishment, and social control.
Key Concepts in Criminology
Learn the core ideas of criminology. Clear, accessible explanations of crime, deviance, punishment, and social responses.
Key Works in Sociology
Explore classic works that define sociology. Influential studies and theories examining society, culture, and social interaction.
Key Concepts in Sociology
Understand sociology’s central concepts. Concise definitions and explanations of social norms, roles, structures, and change.
Glossary
Find clear definitions of key terms in sociology and criminology. An accessible reference for students, researchers, and readers.
About SozTheo.com
SozTheo.com is your online resource for understanding sociology and criminology. Explore clear introductions to key theories, classic works, and essential concepts. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or curious reader, discover the foundations of social science in accessible language.
About Dr. Christian Wickert
I am a sociologist and criminologist with a Diplom in Sociology, an M.A. in CriminologyThe scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, prevention, and societal reactions to deviance within and beyond the criminal justice system., and a PhD focused on cultural criminology and popular music. I have extensive experience in addiction and drug research. Since 2016, I have been a Professor of Sociology and Criminology at the University of Applied Sciences for Police and Public Administration NRW (HSPV NRW). I founded SozTheo.com to provide clear, accessible resources on key theories, classic works, and essential concepts in social science.
Quote of the day
“Among the forms of crime, the range of sensual dynamics runs from enticements that may draw a person into shoplifting to furies that can compel him to murder … The challenge for explanation is to specify the steps of the dialectic process through which a person empowers the world to seduce him to criminality. On the one hand, we must explain how the individual himself conjures up the spirit. On the other hand, we must accept the attraction or compulsion as authentic.”
Jack Katz
Katz, J. (1988). Seductions of CrimeActs or omissions that violate criminal laws and are punishable by the state.: Moral and sensual Attractions in Doing Evil. Perseus Book Group.
Most Popular Today
Featured Articles
Social Disorganization
Explores how weakened social structures in urban areas foster crime by reducing informal control and community cohesion.
Broken Windows
Examines how visible signs of disorder encourage further crime, leading to aggressive policing and zero tolerance strategies.
Labeling Approach
Analyses how society defines deviance, showing that stigma and labels can reinforce criminal identities and exclusion.
Latest Blog Articles
Serial MurderThe unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events, typically with cooling-off periods between the crimes. as Social Pathology: A Criminological Exploration
Serial murder fascinates, terrifies—and has dominated pop culture for years: Netflix documentaries like Monster: The Ed Gein Story or Dahmer break viewership records, while podcasts and true-crime formats attract millions. But beyond media sensationalism, what lies behind the phenomenon of serial killing? This article offers a criminological-sociological approach to one of the most extreme forms…
Continue Reading Serial Murder as Social Pathology: A Criminological Exploration
Sociology of Food
What we eat, when, how, and with whom – these are not purely personal decisions. The sociology of food reveals that eating is a deeply social practice. It signifies belonging, marks differences, reflects power relations, and has become increasingly moralized. Between everyday routines and global food systems, a complex field of research unfolds, offering insights…
What is the best theory of crime?
Ten Blind Spots in Criminological Theory The quest for the “best” theory of crime is as old as the discipline itself. For more than 200 years, scholars have tried to explain why people break the law. But the more theories emerged, the clearer it became: no single theory fully explains crime. Many fall short, focus…
Continue Reading What is the best theory of crime?