Theories of Crime and Deviance

Abstract

This purpose of this chapter is to offer an overview of various ways of thinking about crime and deviance. It begins with a summary of crime and deviance contributions from Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Next, the beginnings of criminology are traced through the Classical School, the Positivist School, and the Chicago School. Then, a sampling of criminology theories is provided including Anomie/Strain Theory, Differential Association Theory, Techniques of Neutralization, Social Control/Social Bond Theory, Routine Activity Theory, Feminist Criminology, Self-Control Theory, General Strain Theory, Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control, Social Learning Theory, and Queer Criminology. Perspectives highlighting the significance of understanding and theorizing about deviance are examined in the context of symbolic interactionism, labeling theories, and Norm-Centered Stigma Theory. Stigma and its accompanying typologies are discussed using the work of Goffman and others. Overall, the theoretical discussions offered here frame crime and deviance as social constructs.