Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Deterrence theories conceptualize crime as the result of rational decision-making, where the anticipated costs of punishment are weighed against the potential benefits of offending. Punishment is understood not merely as retribution but as a calculated instrument to prevent crime by shaping individual choice. Key Points Deterrence theories Main Proponents: Cesare Beccaria, Jeremy Bentham, Franz von
Rational Choice Theories interpret crime as the outcome of calculated, rational decisions in which offenders weigh expected benefits against anticipated costs. This approach assumes that individuals act with purpose, evaluating opportunities to maximize personal utility. Key Points Rational Choice Theory Main Proponents: Gary S. Becker, Derek Cornish, Ronald Clarke First Formulations: 1960s–1980s Country of Origin:
Edwin H. Sutherland’s theory of differential association argues that criminal behavior is learned through social interaction. A person becomes delinquent when they are exposed to more definitions favorable to breaking the law than to definitions unfavorable to it. This approach moves away from ideas of biological determinism or individual pathology and emphasizes the social context
The General Theory of Crime, developed by Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi in 1990, is one of the most influential modern control theories. It offers a parsimonious, universal explanation of criminal behavior by focusing on individual self-control. Rather than asking why people commit crimes, Gottfredson and Hirschi ask why they don’t—arguing that crime is the
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bonds Theory (1969) is one of the most influential control theories in criminology. Rather than asking why people commit crime, Hirschi asks why they conform to rules at all. He argues that human beings have a natural tendency toward deviance, and that conformity results from effective social control rooted in strong social
Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST) extends and refines the classical anomie and strain approaches by broadening the range of sources of strain and by offering a more nuanced, psychologically informed explanation of how strain leads to crime. Unlike Merton, who focused on the disjunction between culturally valued goals and socially legitimate means, Agnew emphasized