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:
Subcultural theory, developed by Albert K. Cohen in the 1950s, explains juvenile delinquency as a collective response to status frustration in a class-stratified society. It argues that marginalized youth form subcultures with alternative norms and values that reject those of mainstream society. These subcultures provide an alternative system of status and recognition, often encouraging deviant
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
Delinquency and Drift by David Matza (1964) represents a landmark critique of both positivist criminology (e.g., Lombroso) and contemporary theories of juvenile delinquency like Cloward & Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory and Cohen’s subcultural theory. Matza challenges the behavioral determinism in these approaches and argues instead for a nuanced, interactionist understanding of delinquency as a temporary,
Cesare Lombroso’s anthropological theory of crime assumes that crime is biological in nature. Lombroso, in particular, posited the existence of an atavistic type of criminal—a biological throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution. Key Points Cesare Lombroso – Criminal Anthropology Main Proponent: Cesare Lombroso First Formulations: 1870s–early 20th century Country of Origin: Italy Core