NCJ Number
99623
Date Published
1985
Length
623 pages
Annotation
Drawing on research in the areas of sociology, physical anthropology, criminology, economics, medicine, biology, and psychology, this book examines theories of and factors in criminality.
Abstract
Following a discussion of difficulties in measuring aggregate and individual crime rates, theories of criminality are examined, including strain, social control, deviance,and behavioral theories. A comprehensive, behavioral theory is proposed that views criminal behavior in terms of the relative costs and rewards of criminality and noncriminality. Within this framework, subsequent chapters examine factors which have been found to correlate with individual differences in criminality. Constitutional factors include gender, age, intelligence, personality, and psychopathology. Developmental factors are those related to family background, including histories of abuse or broken homes, and school-related attributes. Social factors include those associated with communities, labor markets, television and the media, alcohol and drug use, and alterations in the social context. Also examined are historical crime trends, crime across cultures, and the relationship between race and crime. Finally, the implications of the complex interactions among all these factors for national policy are considered. An appendix, extensive footnotes, an index, and approximately 1,325 references are provided.