Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Howard S. Becker (1928–2023) was an American sociologist whose work fundamentally shaped the sociology of deviance and qualitative research methods. A leading figure in the development of labeling theory, Becker emphasized the role of societal reactions in defining deviance. His seminal book Outsiders (1963) examined how deviant identities are socially constructed, challenging essentialist views of
Albert K. Cohen (1918–2014) was an American sociologist and criminologist best known for his work on delinquent subcultures. As a professor at the University of Connecticut, Cohen challenged traditional explanations of juvenile delinquency by emphasizing the role of status frustration and cultural adaptation. His influential theory, outlined in Delinquent Boys (1955), argued that working-class youth
Richard Rosenfeld (1948–2024) was an American criminologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. He was best known for his collaboration with Steven F. Messner on the Institutional Anomie Theory, which explains variations in crime rates through the interplay of cultural values and social institutions. Rosenfeld’s research also addressed issues such as crime
Steven F. Messner was an American criminologist and sociologist best known for co-developing Institutional Anomie Theory (IAT) with Richard Rosenfeld. A long-time professor at the University at Albany, SUNY, Messner’s research explored the relationship between social institutions, cultural values, and crime rates, particularly in the context of the United States. His work bridged criminology and
Robert Agnew is a prominent American criminologist and Professor of Criminology at Emory University. He is internationally recognized for reformulating classical strain theory into the General Strain Theory (GST), which expanded the concept of strain beyond economic factors to include a wide range of negative experiences and relationships. Agnew has published extensively on the causes
Terrie E. Moffitt is an internationally renowned psychologist and criminologist whose research has profoundly shaped developmental and life-course perspectives on crime. She is Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University and Professor of Social Behaviour and Development at King’s College London. Moffitt is best known for her work on antisocial behavior, mental health, and