Theories of Crime
and
Criminal Activity
CJ Criminology, Semester 2
Professor I. Benard
April 20, 2008
Every theory of crime has at least 2-3 meta-theoretical levels
above it. The fundamental issues are usually addressed at the
approach level, and are often called the assumptions, or starting
points, of a theory, although the term "assumptions" more strictly
refers to the background or domain boundaries one can draw
generalizations about. Above the approach level is the
Perspective level, the largest unit of agreement within a
scientific community, and in fact, the names for the scientific
disciplines. Perspectives are sometimes called paradigms or
viewpoints, although some people use the term paradigm to refer
to untestable ideologies such as: (1) rational choice; (2)
pathogenesis; (3) labeling; (4) critique for the sake of critique;
and (5) theoretical integration.
Theory is the foundation of criminology......
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