Using Traditional Criminology

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to outline the main characteristics of three types of criminological theory — strain, control, and cultural deviance theories; to give examples of each, and to discuss their inherent merits and failings; and to examine their implications for social work practice. As will emerge, these are somewhat ‘ideal types’, since many variants of strain theory share the assumptions of cultural deviance theory, as do some forms of control theory, and so on. The basic categorisation, whose terms are those used by Hirschi (1969), is useful for purposes of discussion and, despite crossovers and ambiguities between theories, does indicate differences in the basic assumptions of each type. Similarly, there is no neat dividing line between the predominantly sociological theories discussed in this chapter and some of the predominantly psychological ones discussed in the next: some sociological theories, for example those which emphasise the importance of family ties, can sound quite psychological. The division is, then, sometimes an arbitrary one, and has been decided mainly by the disciplinary affiliation of authors: if someone says s/he is a sociologist, s/he qualifies for inclusion in this chapter.