Social Theories

Browse the articles published in this category.

7 articles

Directly in this category

These articles are placed directly in this category rather than in one of its subsections.

6 min

Socially Focused Theories of Crime

An overview of how social groups, norms, power, and living conditions are used to understand why crime emerges.

7 min

How family, school, belief in the future, segregation, and neighborhood living conditions are linked to the risk of crime.

2 min

How conflicts, cultural norms, and power differences are used to explain crime.

2 min

How strain, blocked opportunities, and negative experiences can increase the risk of crime.

5 min

Why social bonds, official and unofficial control, and self-control are used to explain why people do or do not commit crime.

4 min

How society's reactions, labeling, and negative expectations can reinforce a criminal self-image.

4 min

How criminal behavior can be learned through relationships, rewards, peer pressure, and neutralization.

Other sections

Individual-Focused Theories

4 articles