Positive Tradition (From Positive Criminology, P 9-22, 1987, Michael R Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi, eds. -- See NCJ 107372)

• NCJ Number: 107373
• Author(s): M R Gottfredson; T Hirschi
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Although many modern criminologists have a distaste for positivism (Human behavior is determined rather than the result of free will), trends reveal that positivistic criminology is healthier and more self-assured than ever before.

Abstract

In the early 20th century, the positivists, represented by Lombroso and Ferri, won the battle with the classicists (Free will determines crime) and thus elevated criminology to modern, scientific status. Recent critics of positivism, however, claim that it 'dehumanizes man' (Phillipson, 1974) and is synonymous with the mindless acceptance of existing political arrangements (Quinney, 1975). Positivism continues to thrive, however, because it has given up a claim to isomorphism with particular substantive theories of crime and particular criminal justice policies. The failure of theory is no longer evidence that the method is defective. Other trends that are strengthening positivism are the unification of empirical and theoretical criminology, a respect for data, a renewed emphasis on basic correlates, the eclecticism and multidisciplinary quality of theory and research, and the acceptance of gaps between causal theory and policy prescription.