The Development of Criminological Thought ― Context, Theory and Policy

This book focuses on the history and development of criminological thought from the pre-enlightenment period to the present and offers a detailed and chronological overview of competing theoretical perspectives in criminology in their social and political context. This book covers:

• A discussion of how major theorists came to espouse their ideas and how the social context of the time influenced the development criminological thought,
• An exploration of the scientific method and the way in which theories are tested,
• Details of the origins of each theory as well as their recent developments in scholarship and research,
• Comparative and international research in theory,
• The empirical support for theory and the relationship between research and policy,
• Biosocial and Developmental Criminology, including the biosocial underpinnings of criminal behaviour and the influence of neuroscience and brain psychology,
• Theoretical applications for explaining different crime types, such as genocide, white collar crime and environmental crime.
• A summary of the current state of criminological knowledge and a vision for the future of criminology.

The book includes lists of further reading and chapter summaries and is supported by timelines of key works and events. A companion website contains interviews, learning objectives, discussion questions, and instructor resources. This book is essential reading for courses on criminological theory, criminal behaviour, criminal psychology and biosocial criminology.