Analytical Criminology

This book assesses the numerous theories within criminology that try to explain crime and deviant behavior. It compares some of the most important criminological theories with general behavioral theory and in doing so, presents a novel approach to the analysis of crime and deviant behavior, known as 'Analytical Criminology'.

There are more than 20 theories that explain crime. Each theory has weaknesses, and no scholar knows which theory is best. To remedy this unsatisfactory situation a new research program of comparative theory testing is proposed. Comparing the theories with each other has not yet been successful. The alternative, suggested in this book, is to show how criminological theories must be modified if they are compared with a general behavioral theory. The book shows under which conditions the major criminological theories provide valid explanations of crime. The latter thus become integrated as parts of the general theory.

The general theory that is chosen is a version of the theory of rational action. This is not the problematic version discussed in the literature, but states the real conditions of decision making and, thus, explains when people actually violate the law or remain law-abiding.

The general theory is a component of a theoretical approach that explains individual behavior in interaction with societal (macro) conditions. This micro-macro approach is summarized in a proposed structural-cognitive model. This is part of the new program of Analytical Criminology. It suggests empirical theory comparison, process explanations, and micro-macro explanations.

The book is not only written for readers who are interested in theories of crime and deviant behavior. It is also a treatise in "analytical" (i.e., rigorous) theory construction and empirical theory comparison.

Autorentext

Karl-Dieter Opp is Professor Emeritus at the University of Leipzig (Germany), and Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington (Seattle). His areas of interest include crime and deviant behavior, collective action, political participation and protest, social norms and institutions, rational choice theory, and the philosophy of the social sciences. His most recent English book, also published with Routledge, is Theories of Political Protest and Social Movements. A Multidisciplinary Introduction, Critique and Synthesis (2009).

Klappentext

There are more than 20 theories that explain crime. Each theory has weaknesses, and no scholar knows which theory is best. To remedy this unsatisfactory situation a new research program of comparative theory testing is proposed. Comparing the theories with each other has not yet been successful. The alternative, suggested in this book, is to show how criminological theories must be modified if they are compared with a general behavioral theory. The book shows under which conditions the major criminological theories provide valid explanations of crime. The latter thus become integrated as parts of the general theory. The general theory that is chosen is a version of the theory of rational action. This is not the problematic version discussed in the literature, but states the real conditions of decision making and, thus, explains when people actually violate the law or remain law-abiding. The general theory is a component of a theoretical approach that explains individual behavior in interaction with societal (macro) conditions. This micro-macro approach is summarized in a proposed structural-cognitive model. This is part of the new program of Analytical Criminology. It suggests empirical theory comparison, process explanations, and micro-macro explanations. The book is not only written for readers who are interested in theories of crime and deviant behavior. It is also a treatise in "analytical" (i.e., rigorous) theory construction and empirical theory comparison.

Inhalt

1 Introduction

2 The concept of crime, the definition of "theory," and the characteristics of a good theory

3 The theory chaos in criminology

4 The explanation of individual behavior in the social context: the wide version of

rational choice theory as the theoretical foundation of Analytical Criminology

5 How criminological theories can and should be integrated. The program of comparative theory integration and theory testing

6 Linking individual and society: structural individualism and micro-macro modeling

7 Integrating rational choice theory and criminological theories: some examples

1. Introduction

2. Anomie theory

3. General strain theory

4. Edwin H. Sutherland s differential association theory

5. The social structure social learning theory by Ronald Akers

6. Self-control theory

7. Some propositions of the labeling approach

8. Social disorganization, collective efficacy and crime

9. Situational action theory

10. The origin and working of the Sicilian Mafia: a comparison of a rational choice

explanation with criminological theories

8 Analytical Criminology: core elements of a research program

9 General conclusions, omissions and further research