Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Criminology is the interdisciplinary study of crime, its causes, manifestations, and the societal reactions to deviant behavior. It combines insights from sociology, law, psychology, political science, and philosophy to analyze both individual acts of deviance and the broader structures of social control. This section offers an overview of key criminological theories, foundational texts, and ongoing debates that shape the discipline.
Criminology is not only concerned with understanding why people commit crimes, but also with the social construction of deviance, the role of power in defining crime, and the impact of criminal justice systems on individuals and communities.
Explore the key works of influential criminologists such as Edwin Sutherland, David Garland, and Erving Goffman, and discover how contemporary criminology critically engages with issues of social inequality, neoliberalism, and governmentality.
Being Mentally Ill by Thomas J. Scheff is considered a key contribution to labelling theory and the sociology of mental deviance. Building on the theoretical insights of Howard S. Becker and Erving Goffman, Scheff argues that “mental illness” is not (only) a biologically or medically defined condition, but is significantly shaped by social processes of
Goffman’s Perspective: From Visible Deviance to Social Exclusion In Stigma, Erving Goffman explores the mechanisms by which societies mark individuals whose appearance, behavior, or background is considered deviant from social norms. A stigma is not an inherent attribute, but rather a social judgment that is ascribed to a person. Physical stigmas (e.g., visible disabilities) Character-related
Punishing the Poor by French-American sociologist Loïc Wacquant offers a sharp analysis of the relationship between poverty, criminal justice, and the neoliberal state. The central thesis: in times of neoliberal redistribution and social insecurity, the penal apparatus takes the place of the welfare state—not to solve social problems, but to manage the consequences of growing
This section presents key works in criminology that go beyond classical theories of crime. The selected texts are theoretically rich, interdisciplinary, and have had a lasting impact on criminological debate. They cover central themes such as social control, criminal law, policing, surveillance, social inequality, and deviant identities. Classics & Foundational Texts in Criminology W. E.
Introduction Biological theories of crime seek to explain criminal behavior by reference to physiological, genetic, neurological, or evolutionary factors. Unlike sociological theories that emphasize social structures or cultural norms, biological theories focus on individual traits, predispositions, and processes within the body and brain that may increase the risk of offending. Historically controversial, these perspectives have
Anomie theories — frequently subsumed under the broader category of strain theories — are concerned with explaining why violations of social norms and deviant behavior exhibit systematic variations across societies and historical periods. These theories examine the relationship between crime and the structural organization of society, positing that deviance emerges as an adaptive response to