5 Questions
What is the purpose of criminological theory?
To explain crime and its prevention
What is the cognitive validity of a theory determined by?
How well it fits with empirical facts
What are tacit implications for public policy?
Embedded in every criminological theory
What is the sentiment relevance of a theory determined by?
How popular it is among non-intellectuals
What is the purpose of essays by major criminological theorists?
To provide the basis for criminal justice policies
Study Notes
- Criminological theory is a body of knowledge that explains crime and its prevention.
- Rational choice/deterrence theory is one of the most important theories in criminology and is relevant for the world because it tells us how criminals think and how to deter them from committing crimes.
- A theory's formal or written content consists of its set of articulated propositions, which are linked by relationship statements.
- Criminological theory's cognitive validity is determined by how well it fits with empirical facts.
- Theories with little empirical support are not likely to be supported by the community of scholars.
- Every criminological theory discusses some part of the world and challenges others.
- Tacit Implications for Public Policy are embedded in every criminological theory.
- The sentiment relevance of theory is determined by how well it fits the facts and how popular it is among non-intellectuals.
- Some theories simply feel right to us and we accept them, while others may not.
- Criminological theory contains articulated propositions that are evaluated in accordance with their cognitive or empirical validity.
- The cognitive validity of a theory influences its professional popularity and career.
- Criminological theory also contains unarticulated propositions, which are intensely personal products.
- These unarticulated propositions include a tacit theory of politics.
- Criminal justice policies are virtually always based on some theory about the causes of crime.
- In this book, you will find essays by the major criminological theorists of our time.
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