Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Space & Surveillance theories examine how crime is shaped by the physical and social environments in which it occurs. Rather than locating the causes of crime solely in individual pathology or motivation, these theories analyze how spatial organization, social structures, and surveillance practices influence opportunities for crime and the distribution of criminal events in specific
Routine Activity Theory explains crime as a situational event that emerges when three elements converge in time and space: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. Key Points Routine Activity Approach (RAT) Main Proponents: Lawrence E. Cohen, Marcus Felson, Ronald V. Clarke First Published: 1979 (Cohen & Felson) Country
Theory of Differential Opportunities combines insights from learning, subcultural, anomie, and social disorganization theories to explain why not everyone exposed to strain or blocked opportunities turns to crime. It emphasizes that access to illegitimate means varies and shapes the pathways into criminal behavior. Key Points Differential Opportunity Theory Main Proponents: Richard A. Cloward and Lloyd
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