You are here

Criminology
Share

Criminology
An Interdisciplinary Approach



February 2007 | 520 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
This unique text offers an interdisciplinary perspective on crime and criminality by integrating the latest theories, concepts, and research from sociology, psychology, and biology. Offering a more complete look at the world of criminology than any other existing text, authors Anthony Walsh and Lee Ellis first present criminological theory and concepts in their traditional form and then show how integrating theory and concepts from the more basic sciences can complement, expand, strengthen, and add coherence to them. Key Features: Offers students the opportunity to learn from the ôcutting edgesö of criminology: This innovative, interdisciplinary approach introduces students to the ôfutureö of criminology by offering new and exciting insights. The book also includes strong sections on crime policy and prevention that illustrate the practical benefits of understanding theory and how theories guide policy-makers seeking to prevent and control crime. Focuses on topics fascinating to students: Chapters on typologies such as violent crime, serial killers, terrorism, drug and alcohol addiction, psychopaths, organized crime, and white collar crime engage students while showing how the theories presented earlier can be applied. Presents material in a student-friendly style: Written in an accessible format, the book features many pedagogical tools such as chapter opening vignettes, ôFocus Onö boxes, summary tables of all theories, a unique photo program, discussion questions, Web-driven exercises, and key terms. Accompanied by High Quality Ancillaries! An InstructorÆs Resource CD and a Student Study Site include interactive quizzes, journal articles, and much more! Intended Audience: This core textbook is designed for undergraduate students studying introductory criminology in the departments of Sociology and Criminal Justice.
 
Preface
 
Foreword
 
Acknowledgments
 
Chapter 1: Criminology, Crime, And Criminal Law
What Is Criminology?

 
What Is Crime?

 
Crime as a Moving Target

 
Crime as a Subcategory of Social Harms

 
Beyond Social Construction: The Stationary Core Crimes

 
Box 1.1 Mala in Se or Mala Prohibita? The Cannibal and His Willing Victim

 
Victimful and Victimless Crimes

 
The Felony-Misdemeanor Distinction

 
Criminality

 
The Legal Making of a Criminal

 
An Excursion Through the U.S. Criminal Justice System

 
The Role of Theory in Criminology

 
The Classical School

 
 
Chapter 2: Measuring Crime And Criminal Behavior
Categorizing and Measuring Crime and Criminal Behavior

 
The Dark Figure of Crime Revisited

 
Box 2.1 The Crime Problem or the Criminality Problem?

 
The Financial Cost of Crime

 
Interpreting Crime Trends

 
Box 2.2 Is the United States Hard or Soft on Crime?

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 3: The Early Schools Of Criminology And Modern Counterparts
The Classical Scholars

 
The Rise of Positivism

 
Box 3.1 Lombrosoism Before and After Lombroso

 
Neoclassicism: Rational Choice Theory

 
Connecting Criminological Theory and Social Policy

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 4: Social Structural Theories
The Social Structural Tradition

 
Sociological Positivism

 
Box 4.1 People Versus Places: Do Neighborhoods Matter?

 
Subcultural Theories

 
Box 4.2 Does Poverty Cause Crime, or Does Crime Cause Poverty?

 
Youth Gangs

 
Evaluation of Social Structural Theories

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Social Structural Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 5: Social Process Theories
The Social Process Tradition

 
Social Control Theories

 
Box 5.1 Self-Esteem and Crime

 
Evaluation of Social Process Theories

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Social Process Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 6: Critical Theories: Marxist, Conflict, And Feminist
The Conflict Perspective of Society

 
Conflict Theory: Max Weber, Power and Conflict

 
Box 6.1 The Supreme Court and Class Conflict

 
Feminist Criminology

 
Evaluation of Critical Theories

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Critical Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 7: Psychosocial Theories: Individual Traits And Criminal Behavior
Modern Psychology and Intelligence

 
Box 7.1 The Impact of High and Low IQ on Life Outcomes

 
The Role of Temperament

 
Modern Psychosocial Theories

 
The Antisocial Personalities

 
Evaluation of the Psychosocial Perspective

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Psychosocial Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 8: Biosocial Approaches
Behavior Genetics

 
Box 8.1 Gene-Environment Interaction: MAO, Abuse/Neglect, and Crime

 
Evolutionary Psychology

 
The Neurohormonal Sciences

 
Evaluation of the Biosocial Perspective

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Biosocial Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 9: Developmental Theories: From Delinquency To Crime To Desistance
Juvenile Delinquency

 
Box 9.1 What Role Do Genes Play in Juvenile Delinquency?

 
Major Developmental Theories

 
Evaluation of Development Theories

 
Box 9.2 Summary of Key Points, Strengths, and Differences of Developmental Theories

 
Policy and Prevention: Implications of Development Theories

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Chapter 10: Altered Minds And Crime: Alcohol, Drugs, And Mental Illness
The Scope of the Alcohol/Crime Problem

 
Illegal Drugs and Crime

 
Box 10.1 Treatment Modalities for Substance Abuse in the Criminal Justice System

 
Box 10.2 Portrait of a Schizophrenic

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Crimes of Violence
Murder

 
Rape and Rapists

 
Box 11.1 Characteristics of Rapists

 
Robbery and Robbers

 
Aggravated Assault

 
Explaining Violence Sociologically: The Subculture of Violence Thesis

 
Evolutionary Considerations:What Is Violence For?

 
Box 11.2 Evolutionary Considerations of Inequality and Violence

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Serial, Mass, and Spree Murder
What Is Multiple Murder?

 
Box 12.1 Recent Long-Term Serial Killers: The Green River and BTK Cases

 
Theories About the Causes of Serial Killing

 
Law Enforcement’s Response to Serial Killing

 
Box 12.2 The First Serial Killer Profile: Jack the Ripper

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Terrorism and Terrorists
Terrorism Defined

 
Why Terrorism?

 
Is There a Difference Between Terrorists and Freedom Fighters?

 
The Extent of Terrorism

 
Terrorism and Common Crime

 
Some Important Terrorist Groups

 
Box 13.1 The Irish Republican Army: A Decommissioned Group?

 
Terrorism in the United States

 
Theories About the Causes of Terrorism

 
Is There a Terrorist Personality?

 
Becoming a Terrorist

 
Law Enforcement Response and Government Policy

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Property And Public Order Crimes
Larceny-Theft

 
Burglary

 
Motor Vehicle Theft

 
Box 14.1 Carjacking: MV Theft With an Attitude

 
Arson

 
Crimes of Guile and Deceit

 
Cybercrime: Oh What a Tangled World Wide Web We Weave

 
Box 14.2 Phishing: “If It’s Too Good to Be True . . .”

 
Public-Order Offenses

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 15: White-Collar And Organized Crime
The Concept of White-Collar Crime

 
Corporate Crime

 
Box 15.1 Crimes of America’s Rich and Famous in History

 
Organized Crime

 
Box 15.2 The Mafia: The Sicilian Origins and History

 
Theories About the Causes of Organized Crime

 
Law Enforcement’s Response to Organized Crime

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Terms

 
 
Chapter 16: Victimology: Exploring The Experience Of Victimization
The Emergence of Victimology

 
Who Gets Victimized?

 
Victimization in the Workplace and School

 
Child Molestation:Who Gets Victimized?

 
Victimization Theories

 
The Consequences of Victimization

 
Box 16.1 A Case of Cybervictimization and Its Consequences

 
Victimization and the Criminal Justice System

 
Box 16.2 Victims’ Opinions of the Importance of Victims’ Rights

 
Victim-Offender Reconciliation Programs (VORPS)

 
Summary

 
Exercises and Discussion Questions

 
Key Words

 
 
Glossary
 
Author Index
 
Subject Index
 
About the Authors

"I find that Walsh’s text is a great value for the price in that it encompasses a number of criminal justice topics, a strong theoretical discussion, and dedicates chapters to the integrated approach of criminology. [It also features] an interdisciplinary approach that integrates rather than separates the theories [and] a comprehensive student study site that challenges the student to move beyond the classroom and textbook."

Erin Conley-Monroe
Harold Washington College

"I was impressed after reviewing the table of contents that Walsh included separate Chapters on Terrorism and Drugs . . . I felt that Walsh’s writing is very sophisticated and better organized with regards to Chapters than [the competition]. I really liked how the interdisciplinary approach is explained and the organization/choice of theories covered…. It addresses Criminology more at the interdisciplinary approach and explains why that is important.
I [also] find Sage’s [student study site at www.sagepub.com/criminologystudy] to be thorough and easy to navigate. Walsh is a much better value for the price."

Cathryn Lavery
Iona College

Our specialist liked it best.

Dr Dorothy Weaver
social science, Oklahoma St Univ-Oklahoma City
May 14, 2014

I did not find this book user friendly for students

Professor AIMEE DELANEY-LUTZ
Criminal Justice, Rivier University
December 18, 2012

For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

Select a Purchasing Option


Paperback
ISBN: 9781412938402
£143.00