Why Do Criminals Offend A General Theory of Crime and Delinquency [Paperback]

This book focuses on what is probably the most frequently asked question about crime: Why do criminals offend? Renowned criminologist Robert Agnew draws on a broad range of crime theories and the latest research to present a general theory of crime and delinquency, rich with student-accessible examples. The general theory integrates the essential arguments from social learning, social control, self-control, strain, labeling, social support, bio-psychological, and other theories. And it draws on the latest research examining the relationship between crime, individual traits, and the social environment--including family, school, peer, and work environments.

Agnew's general theory is concise and written at a level readily accessible to undergraduates. It provides a good sense of the major causes of crime and how they mutually influence and interact with one another to affect crime. Key points are illustrated with examples from qualitative and quantitative research, and each chapter ends with a set of thought-provoking discussion questions.

While the book focuses on explaining why some individuals are more likely than others to offend, the general theory is also used to explain group differences in crime rates and patterns of offending over the life course. Further, the theory is used to evaluate current efforts to control crime and suggest new crime control initiatives.

1. Introduction: A General Theory of Crime and Delinquency
Why I Wrote This Book and What I Hope to Accomplish
The Questions a General Theory of Crime Must Answer
A General Theory That Answers These Questions Runs the Risk of Being Too Complex
My Approach to Constructing a General Theory of Crime
What the Theory Is Designed to Explain
Testing and Applying the Theory
Acknowledgments: The General Theory Is Built on the Work of Numerous Others
Conclusion
Discussion and Study Questions
2. Crime Is Most Likely When the Constraints Agl³2