Synopses & Reviews
Theories of Delinquency provides a comprehensive survey of major theoretical approaches to the understanding of delinquent behavior. It includes discussions and evaluations of all major individualistic and sociological theories, presenting each theory in a standard format with basic assumptions, important concepts, and evaluations of the research connected with the theories. The third edition contains updated discussions of these theories. In addition, there is a new chapter on classical theory, and an expanded discussion of female delinquency that includes power-control theory and feminist perspectives, and an expanded examination of theoretical integration. Clearly written and consistently organized, Theories of Delinquency is important reading for students of crime and delinquency.
Synopsis
Now updated and expanded, this concise survey presents an integrated and comparative evaluation of both individualistic and sociological theories and illuminates the connections, basic assumptions, and concepts associated with major theories of delinquency. In addition to updated discussions of biological and biosocial, psychological, differential association, social disorganization, lower-class-based, anomie, control, radical, and labeling theories, the second edition offers an evaluation of past and present attempts to explain middle-class delinquency and a new discussion of female delinquency that includes power-control theory. Also new is an expanded discussion of theoretical integration that incorporates a full spectrum of delinquency theory.
Synopsis
Theories of Delinquency provides a comprehensive survey of major theoretical approaches to the understanding of delinquent behavior. It includes discussions and evaluations of all major individualistic and sociological theories, presenting each theory in a standard format with basic
assumptions, important concepts, and evaluations of the research connected with the theories. The third edition contains updated discussions of these theories. In addition, there is a new chapter on classical theory, and an expanded discussion of female delinquency that includes power-control theory
and feminist perspectives, and an expanded examination of theoretical integration. Clearly written and consistently organized, Theories of Delinquency is important reading for students of crime and delinquency.
Table of Contents
1. Explanations of Delinquency
The Problem of Delinquency
The Issue of Causality
What Is a Theory?
Verification of Theories
The Plan of This Book
2. The Classical School--Issues of Choice and Reasoning
Historical Overview
Rational Choice Theory
3. Biological and Biosocial Explanations
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptions
Somatotypes and Delinquency
Inheritance and Delinquency
Emerging Trends in Biological Explanations of Delinquency
4. Psychological Traits
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptiosn
Intelligence and Delinquency
The Psychiatric-Psychoanalytic Approach
General Personality Characteristics
5. Social Disorganization and Anomie
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptions
Social Disorganization
Anomie and Delinquency: Discontinuities in Society
6. Lower-Class-Based Theories of Delinquency
Historical Overview and Generic Assumptions
Cohen and the Middle-Class Measuring Rod
Cloward and Ohlin's Theory of Differential Opportunity Structure
Miller's Theory of Lower-Class Culture and Delinquency
7. Interpersonal and Situational Explanations
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptions
Differential Association
Drift and Delinquency
8. Control Theories
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptions
Personal Controls
Social Controls--The Social Bond
9. Labeling Theory
Historical Overview
Generic Assumptions
10. The Radical Theory of Delinquency
Historical Overview
Beyond "Radical" Theory
11. Female Delinquency
Historical Overview
Basic Biological and Psychological Approaches
Gender Roles and Delinquency
Women's Emancipation
Evaluation
Power-Control Theory
Feminist Explanations of Female Delinquency
12. Delinquency Theory: An Integrative Approach
Integrated Theories: Some Considerations and a Proposed Model
Author Index
Subject Index
Chapters 2-11 end with a Summary