Crime theories

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Theories of crime are systems of statements to explain the causes, the course and the structural characteristics of delinquent behavior . A basic distinction is made between microtheories, the approach of which emphasizes the individual characteristics of criminal behavior, and macrotheories, which focus on the social context. In addition to these two theoretical concepts, there are theories that view crime as a construct of a formal control system (in particular criminal law and the state authorities responsible for prosecuting crime).

In principle, a classification of theories of crime is also represented from a scientific point of view, so that we are talking about sociological , socio-psychological , psychological or biological theories of crime, among others . While biological crime theories have largely receded into the background, social-psychological approaches predominate today. In principle, not a single crime theory is capable of adequately explaining crime.

The abundance of existing theories of crime from the most varied of scientific disciplines have left almost no aspect of human existence that is not incorporated into some theory to explain delinquent behavior. The theories presented accompany the offender retrospectively from his birth through almost all stages of his development in the context of special or general social influences up to the act. This diversity owes its existence not only, but also to the fact that criminology has not yet managed to agree on a theory of society and / or personality that could be the basis for systematic research and the formation of theories. It has also not yet been able to integrate the many approaches.

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Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Ignatz Kerscher: Sociological crime theories. An introduction . 3. Edition. Beltz, Weinheim, Basel 1981, ISBN 3-407-51127-2 .