Synopses & Reviews
Essential Criminology brings a breath of fresh air to my course at the same time it provides the materials to cover a very important but very difficult topic: theorizing about crime itself.”
Sandra Quinn, St. Ambrose University
No other text on theories of crime can compete with Essential Criminologys precise coverage of core theories in crime causation or with its seductive encouragement to actively engage the respective theories. This book will not only appeal to students but also to those seeking a comprehensive, critical reference text.”
Dragan Milovanovic, Northeastern Illinois University
In the fourth edition of Essential Criminology, authors Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry, and Desiré J.M. Anastasia build upon this best-selling critical review of criminology, which is now essential reading for students of criminology in the 21st century.
Designed as an alternative to overly comprehensive, lengthy, and expensive introductory texts, Essential Criminology provides a concise overview of the field. It guides students through the various definitions of crime and the different ways crime is measured, and then covers the major theories of crime, from individual-level, classical, and rational choice, to biological, psychological, social learning, social control, and interactionist perspectives. In this latest edition, the authors explore the kind of criminology that is needed for the globally interdependent twenty-first century. With cutting-edge updates, illustrative real-world examples, and new study tools for students, this text is a necessity for both undergraduate and graduate courses in criminology.
Mark M. Lanier is professor and the Dean's Assistant in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama. He is the author or editor of 12 books on crime and research methods, including Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology: A Mixed Methods Approach (Oxford University).
Stuart Henry is professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University. He is the author of over twenty books including the classic work, The Hidden Economy.
Desiré J. M. Anastasia is assistant professor of sociology at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Review
Praise for previous editions:
"Comprehensive, accessible, engaging, and concise, covering key theories from conservative to critical with very useful early chapters on defining criminology, crime, and crime data. Each subsequent chapter includes a succinct overview of a set of core theories, an illuminating section on limitations and policy implications, and a precise summary of key points (including basic idea, human nature, society and social order, causality, criminal justice policy and practice, and evaluation). Unlike many texts, this inclusion provides the student and the well-versed abundant opportunities for engagement and critical dialogue. No text on theories of crime on the market can compete with the extensive and precise coverage of core theories in crime causation along with the seductive encouragement to actively engage the respective theories. Essential Criminology is also futuristic, providing the grounds for constructive critical engagement with emerging perspectives. This will not only appeal to students but also to those well-versed seeking a comprehensive, critical reference text. Three cheers for the innovative and comprehensive exposition and critique!"
Dr. Dragan Milovanovic, Justice Studies, Northeastern Illinois University
"Essential Criminology is essential reading for anybody-student, scholar, or lay person-who is curious about crime and the world in the 21st century. In this new and revised edition, Lanier and Henry incorporate significant changes that are occurring in an age of globalization. Changes that even since the first edition was published in 1997 are affecting the way in which we see and study crime today. Employing an historical and comparative framework, these authors have also expanded upon their original theses and analyses for examining the evolving field of criminology, yielding what I would contend is the most inclusive and balanced theory text available."
Gregg Barak, Eastern Michigan University
"Essential Criminology is a wonderful introductory textbook, and should one desire a more in-depth study of criminology, it offers 43 pages of reference materials."
Wisconsin Lawyer
"Represents the first important shift in the content and presentation of introductory criminology textbooks in over 29 years. Students at the college level receive an introduction to the past wealthy of criminological thought as well as new ideas on the topic. This simplifies arguments and perspectives yet contains all the overview of important issues central to criminology theory.
The Bookwatch
"Essential Criminology represents a significant advancement in our approach to educating students about the definition and use of different criminological perspectives. By presenting the major theoretical perspectives in simplified language and by the use of modern-day examples and current research findings, students are able to develop a more meaningful understanding for the role that theory plays in the development and implementation of crime policy."
Lynette Lee-Sammns, California State University, Scaramento
"Essential Criminology is the first important shift in the content and presentation of introductory criminology textbooks in over two decades. Survey textbooks should do two things: teach students the basics and discuss where future directions are leading us. The majority do the former but ignore the latter. Lanier and Henry accomplish both. Comprehensive and future-oriented, the book provides the introductory student the broad brush of criminological thought within the context of new and expanded ideas. Students will enjoy Essential Criminology because it makes difficult concepts easy to understand without leveling down, uses examples akin to today's student's experience, and carries the theme of crime as harm in any kind across every page of every chapter. A first-rate textbook."
John Ortiz Smykla, University of Alabama
"Lanier and Henry have written a superb introductory text. Students and instructors will find Essential Criminology engrossing from start to finish. Thee authors straightforward yet comprehensive treatment of crime reflects the multidisciplinary nature of criminological theory and practice as it provides readers with a strong foundation for the study of crime."
Gregg Barak, Eastern Michigan University
"This is the book I have been searching for for yearsa criminology text which focuses on theory, is clear, concise, and affordable. At the same time it is substantive and comprehensive."
Barbara Lavin, Marist College
Synopsis
This bestselling crimninology text offers a concise introduction to the nature and extent of crime while surveying core perspectives on crime causation and their policy implications with a sociological context.
Synopsis
In the fourth edition of
Essential Criminology, authors Mark M. Lanier, Stuart Henry, and Desiré J.M. Anastasia build upon this best-selling critical review of criminology, which has become essential reading for students of criminology in the 21st century.
Designed as an alternative to overly comprehensive, lengthy, and expensive introductory texts, Essential Criminology is, as its title implies, a concise overview of the field. The book guides students through the various definitions of crime and the different ways crime is measured. It then covers the major theories of crime, from individual-level, classical, and rational choice to biological, psychological, social learning, social control, and interactionist perspectives. In this latest edition, the authors explore the kind of criminology that is needed for the globally interdependent twenty-first century. With cutting-edge updates, illustrative real-world examples, and new study tools for students, this text is a necessity for both undergraduate and graduate courses in criminology.
About the Author
Mark M. Lanier is professor and the Dean's Assistant in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama. He is the author or editor of 12 books on crime and research methods, including
Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology: A Mixed Methods Approach (Oxford University).
Stuart Henry is professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University. He is the author of over twenty books including the classic work, The Hidden Economy.
Desiré J. M. Anastasia is assistant professor of sociology at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Table of Contents
List of Tables and Figures List of Inset Boxes
Preface and Acknowledgments
1 What Is Criminology? The Study of Crime, Criminals, and Victims in a Global Context
Globalization
What is Criminology?
Is Criminology Scientific?
Is Criminology a Discipline?
What is Comparative and Global Criminology?
What is Victimology?
Summary
2 What is Crime? Defining the Problem
Legal Definition
Who defines Crime?
Consensus and Conflict Approaches
Consensus Approaches
Social Context
Conflict Approaches
Beyond Consensus and Conflict
Hagans Pyramid of Crime
From Hagans Pyramid to the Prism of Crime
Crime Prism
Integrating the Dimension
Application of the Prism to the Problem of School Violence
The Paucity of the School Violence Concept
Toward an Expansive Integrated Concept of School Violence
The Pyramidal Analysis Revealing the Dimensions of School Violence
Causal Implications of the Prismatic Analysis of School Violence
Policy Implications of the Prismatic Analysis of School Violence
Dispute Resolution andRestorative Justice
Other Implications
Crimes of the Powerless
Crimes of the Powerful
Summary
3 Classical, Neoclassical, and Rational Choice Theories
The Preclassical Era
The Classical Reaction
Cesare Beccaria
Jeremy Bentham
Limitations of Classical Theory
Neoclassical Revisions
Criminal Justice Implications: The Move to Justice” Theory
The Conservative Law-and-Order Turn
Determinate or Mandantory Sentencing
Three-Strikes Laws
Incapacitation
Deterrence and the Death Penalty
Redefining Rational Choice: Situational Factors and Routine Activities Theory
Policy Applications of Rational Choice and Routine Activities Theories
Conceptual and Empirical Limitations: What the Research Shows
Evidence on the Rational Choice Decision-Making Process
Evidence on Routine Activities and Crime
Summary and Conclusion
Summary Chart: Classical, Rational Choice and Routine Activities Theories
4 Born to Be Bad”: Biological, Physiological and Biosocial Theories of Crime
Biological and Positivistic Assumptions
The Social Context of Criminal Anthropology
The Born Criminal
Early U.S. Family-Type and Body-Type Theories
Contemporary Biological Perspectives
Twin Studies and Adoption Studies
Biosocial Criminology: A Developmental Explanation of Crime
Chromosomes, Nervous System, Attention Deficit Disorder, Hormones and the Brain
The Importance of Neurotransmitters in Relation to Depression and Aggression
Recent Directions in Biosocial Criminology
Conceptual and Empirical Limitations
Criminal Justice Policy Implications
Summary and Conclusion
Summary Chart: Biological Theory
5 Criminal Minds: Psychiatric and Psychological Explanations for Crime
From Sick Minds to Abnormal Behavior
Shared Psychological Assumptions
The Psychoanalytic Approach
Blaming the Mother: Attachment Theory
Maladaptive Coping Strategies: Frustration-Aggression Theory
The Limitations and Policy Implications of Psychoanalytical Theory
Trait-Based Personality Theories
The Limitations and Policy Implications of Trait-Based and Evolutionary Psychology
Behavioral, Situational, and Social Learning Theories
Behavioral Learning Theory
Social Learning and Modeling Theory
Limitations and Policy Implications of Learning Theory
Cognitive Theories
Limitations and Policy Implications of Cognitive Theory
Ecological Psychology
Evolutionary Psychology
Limitations and Policy Implications of Ecological and Evolutionary Psychology
Summary and Conclusion
Summary Chart: Psychological Theories of Crime
6 Learning Criminal Behavior: Social Process Theories
Common Themes and Different Assumptions
Sutherlands Differential Association Theory
Empirical Support and Limitations of Differential Association Theory
Modifying Differential Association: Differential Reinforcement Theory and Differential Identification Theory
Policy Implications of Differential Association and Social Learning Theory
Limitations of Differential Support Theory
Cognitive Social Learning
Neutralization Theory: Learning Rationalizations as Motives
Drifting In and Out of Delinquency: Matza and Sykess Neutralization Theory
Banduras Moral Disengagement Theory
Policy Implications of Neutralization and Moral Disengagment Theory
Limitations and Evaluation of Neutralization Explanations
Summary and Conclusion
Summary Chart: Social Process Theories
7 Failed Socialization: Control Theory, Social Bonds, and Labeling
Control Theory: Learning not to Commit Crime
Kinds of Social Control Theory: Broken Bonds or Failure to Bond?
Hirschis Social Control Theory
Gottfredson and Hirschis Self-Control Theory
Policy Implications of Control Theory
Evaluation of Social Control and Self-Control Theory
Labeling Theory: A Special Case of Failed Socialization?
Symbolic Interactionist roots of Labeling theory
Lemerts Primary and Secondary Deviance
Beckers Interactionist Theory: Social Reaction and Master Status
Goffmans Stigma and Total Institutions
Braithwaites Reintegrative Shaming
Matsuedas Informal Negative Labeling and Differential Social Control
Policy Implications of Labeling Theory
Evaluation of Labeling Theory
Summary and Conclusion
Summary Chart: Control Theory and Labeling Theory