CrimeExplained
Part of Crime Theories
Social Theories
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Social Theories
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.
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7 min
Economic and Social Conditions Linked to Crime
How family, school, belief in the future, segregation, and neighborhood living conditions are linked to the risk of crime.
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2 min
Power and Conflict as Causes of Crime
How conflicts, cultural norms, and power differences are used to explain crime.
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2 min
Strain Theory
How strain, blocked opportunities, and negative experiences can increase the risk of crime.
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5 min
Control Theories
Why social bonds, official and unofficial control, and self-control are used to explain why people do or do not commit crime.
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2 min
Labeling Theory and Social Learning
An overview of how labeling, self-image, expectations, and social learning are used to understand crime.
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4 min
Labeling Theory and Self-Fulfilling Expectations
How society's reactions, labeling, and negative expectations can reinforce a criminal self-image.
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4 min
Social Learning
How criminal behavior can be learned through relationships, rewards, peer pressure, and neutralization.
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