Francis T. Cullen

Robert Agnew

In the thoroughly updated fourth edition of this anthology, Francis T. Cullen and Robert Agnew take readers on an excursion from past to present, reviewing classic and contemporary theories of crime. The editors frame each individual reading with a brief introduction, providing students with a useful "road map" as they explore the ongoing intellectual developments, diverse views, and continuing debates in the field of criminology.

Past to Present : Essential Readings

Criminological Theory

Why do people commit crimes? How do we control crime? The theories that criminologists use to answer these questions are built on a number of underlying assumptions, including those about the nature of crime, free will, human nature, and society. These assumptions have a fundamental impact on criminology: they largely determine what criminologists study, the causes they examine, the control strategies they recommend, and how they test their theories and evaluate crime-control strategies. In Toward a Unified Criminology, noted criminologist Robert Agnew provides a critical examination of these assumptions, drawing on a range of research and perspectives to argue that these assumptions are too restrictive, unduly limiting the types of "crime" that are explored, the causes that are considered, and the methods of data collection and analysis that are employed. As such, they undermine our ability to explain and control crime. Agnew then proposes an alternative set of assumptions, drawing heavily on both mainstream and critical theories of criminology, with the goal of laying the foundation for a unified criminology that is better able to explain a broader range of crimes.

Integrating Assumptions about Crime, People and Society

Toward a Unified Criminology

This book allows students to explore this major theory in depth, reviewing the research on the theory, comparing it to other theories, and applying the theory to key issues in the study of crime.

An Overview of General Strain Theory

Pressured Into Crime

Why do people commit crimes? How do we control crime? The theories that criminologists use to answer these questions are built on a number of underlying assumptions, including those about the nature of crime, free will, human nature, and society. These assumptions have a fundamental impact on criminology: they largely determine what criminologists study, the causes they examine, the control strategies they recommend, and how they test their theories and evaluate crime-control strategies. In Toward a Unified Criminology, noted criminologist Robert Agnew provides a critical examination of these assumptions, drawing on a range of research and perspectives to argue that these assumptions are too restrictive, unduly limiting the types of crime that are explored, the causes that are considered, and the methods of data collection and analysis that are employed. As such, they undermine our ability to explain and control crime. Agnew then proposes an alternative set of assumptions, drawing heavily on both mainstream and critical theories of criminology, with the goal of laying the foundation for a unified criminology that is better able to explain a broader range of crimes.

causes and control

Juvenile delinquency

This text is a comprehensive anthology in which criminologists Cullen and Agnew take readers from past to present, reviewing classic and contemporary theories of crime. This new edition features 14 new selections, ranging from classic works to recent selections on social disorganization, and control balance theories.

Robert Agnew

Books

Your next favorite book is out there