The Origins Of American Criminology

The essays contained in this book capture the stories behind the invention of criminology's major theoretical perspectives and preserves information from the generation that defined the field for the past decades that otherwise would have been lost. This history shows criminology to be a human enterprise. Its ideas were not driven primarily by data, nor were the theories invented solely as part of the scientific process. To the contrary, American criminology's great theories most often preceded the collection of data; they guided and produced empirical inquiry, not vice versa. This volume demonstrates that humanity is what makes theory possible in that diverse experiences allow individual scholars to see the world differently, and thus shape theoretical paradigms based on their own unique life stories.

The Origins of American Criminology is an invaluable resource. Both separately and together, these essays capture the stories behind the invention of criminology's major theoretical perspectives. They preserve information that otherwise would have been lost. There is urgency to embark on this reflective task given that the generation that defined the field for the past decades is heading into retirement. This fine volume insures that their life experiences will not be forgotten. The volume shows criminology to be a human enterprise. Ideas are not driven primarily-and often not at all-by data. Theories are not invented solely as part of the scientific process; they are not inevitable. American criminology's great theories most often precede the collection of data; they guide and produce empirical inquiry, not vice versa. Theoretical paradigms are shaped by a host of factors-scholars' assumptions about the world drawn from their social constructs, disciplinary content and ideology, cognitive environments found in specific universities and the field's scholarly networks, and, quirks in a person's biography. The volume demonstrates that humanity is what makes theory possible. Diverse experiences-when we were born, where we have lived, the unique trajectories of our personal life courses, the disciplines and academic places we have ended up-allow individual scholars to see the world differently.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction: Preserving the Origins of American Criminology -- Part I. The Chicago School of Criminology -- 1. Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D. McKay: Chicago Criminologists -- 2. Edwin H. Sutherland: The Development of Differential Association Theory -- 3. Communities and Crime Revisited: Intellectual Trajectory of a Chicago School Education -- Part II. Merton's Columbia University Tradition -- 4. The Making of Criminology Revisited: An Oral History of Merton's Anomie Paradigm -- 5. The Intellectual Origins of Institutional-Anomie Theory -- 6. Revitalizing Merton: General Strain Theory -- Part III. Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania -- 7. Thorsten Sellin: Culture Conflict, Crime, and Beyond -- 8. The Pennsylvania School of Criminology: Building Tipping Points for a Discipline -- 9. The Rise of Feminist Criminology: Freda Adler -- Part IV. New Visions of Crime -- 10. Becoming a Peacemaking Criminologist: The Travels of Richard Quinney -- 11. The Origins of the Routine Activity Approach and Situational Crime Prevention -- 12. Because Crime Hurts, Justice Must Heal: John Braithwaite -- Part V. The Control Theory-Social Learning Theory Debate -- 13. The Origins and Development of Containment Theory: Walter C. Reckless and Simon Dinitz -- 14. Control Theory: The Life and Work of Travis Hirschi -- 15. In Pursuit of A General Theory of Crime -- 16. The Origins of Me and of Social Learning Theory: Personal and Professional Recollections and Reflections -- Part VI. The Development of Life-Course Theory -- 17. Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck's Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency Study: The Lives of 1,000 Boston Men in the Twentieth Century -- 18. Understanding the Development of Antisocial Behavior: Terrie Moffitt -- Contributors -- Index

The Origins of American Criminology is an invaluable resource. Both separately and together, these essays capture the stories behind the invention of criminology’s major theoretical perspectives. They preserve information that otherwise would have been lost. There is urgency to embark on this reflective task given that the generation that defined the field for the past decades is heading into retirement. This fine volume insures that their life experiences will not be forgotten. The volume shows criminology to be a human enterprise. Ideas are not driven primarily—and often not at all—by data. Theories are not invented solely as part of the scientific process; they are not inevitable. American criminology’s great theories most often precede the collection of data; they guide and produce empirical inquiry, not vice versa. Theoretical paradigms are shaped by a host of factors—scholars’ assumptions about the world drawn from their social constructs, disciplinary content and ideology, cognitive environments found in specific universities and the field’s scholarly networks, and, quirks in a person’s biography. The volume demonstrates that humanity is what makes theory possible. Diverse experiences—when we were born, where we have lived, the unique trajectories of our personal life courses, the disciplines and academic places we have ended up—allow individual scholars to see the world differently.

Featuring contributions by distinguished scholars from ten countries, The Wiley Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Criminology provides students, scholars, and criminologists with a truly a global perspective on the theory and practice of criminology throughout the centuries and around the world. In addition to chapters devoted to the key ideas, thinkers, and moments in the intellectual and philosophical history of criminology, it features in-depth coverage of the organizational structure of criminology as an academic discipline world-wide. The first section focuses on key ideas that have shaped the field in the past, are shaping it in the present, and are likely to influence its evolution in the foreseeable future. Beginning with early precursors to criminology’s emergence as a unique discipline, the authors trace the evolution of the field, from the pioneering work of 17th century Italian jurist/philosopher, Cesare Beccaria, up through the latest sociological and biosocial trends. In the second section authors address the structure of criminology as an academic discipline in countries around the globe, including in North America, South America, Europe, East Asia, and Australia. With contributions by leading thinkers whose work has been instrumental in the development of criminology and emerging voices on the cutting edge The Wiley Handbook of the History and Philosophy of Criminology provides valuable insights in the latest research trends in the field world-wide - the ideal reference for criminologists as well as those studying in the field and related social science and humanities disciplines.

The Origins of Criminology: A Reader is a collection of nineteenth-century texts from the key originators of the practice of criminology – selected, introduced, and with commentaries by the leading scholar in this area, Nicole Rafter. This book presents criminology as a unique field of study that took root in a context in which urbanization, immigration, and industrialization changed the class structure of Western nations. As relatively homogenous communities became more sharply divided and aware of a bottom-most group, the 'dangerous classes', a new segment of the middle class emerged: professionals involved in the work of social control. Tracing the intellectual origins of criminology to physiognomy, phrenology, and evolutionary theories, this book demonstrates criminology's background in new attitudes toward science and the development of scientific methodologies applicable to social and mental phenomena. Through an expert selection of original texts, it traces the emergence of ‘criminology’ as a new field purporting to produce scientific knowledge about crime and criminals.

Offering a rich introduction to how scholars analyze crime, Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences moves readers beyond a commonsense knowledge of crime to a deeper understanding of the importance of theory in shaping crime control policies. The Sixth Edition of the authors’ clear, accessible, and thoroughly revised text covers traditional and contemporary theory within a larger sociological and historical context. J. Robert Lilly, Francis T. Cullen, and Richard A. Ball include new sources that assess the empirical status of the major theories, as well as updated coverage of crime control policies and their connection to criminological theory.