The Broken Windows Theory was developed by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling. According to the two authors, the broken window must be repaired as quickly as possible to prevent further destruction in the neighborhood and an increase in the crime rate. Destruction in urban areas is therefore inextricably
Theories of Crime
Code of the Street (Anderson)
“Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City” is a book by sociologist Elijah Anderson that examines the dynamics of inner-city life in poor African American neighborhoods. Anderson conducted extensive field research in Philadelphia, focusing on the Code of the Street as a set
Age Graded Theory/ Turning Points (Sampson and Laub)
[also known as: Age-Graded Life-Course Theory of Crime, Age-Graded Development Theory, Theorie der Turning Points] Robert J. Sampson’s and John H. Laub’s Age Graded Theory or Theory of Turning Points describe the change in the crime load of individuals as a function of biographical events. For this purpose, they use
Reintegrative Shaming (Braithwaite)
Shaming describes any form of reaction to deviant behaviour that causes shame in the deviant. Braithwaite assumes two different forms of shaming. Disintegrative shaming has a stigmatizing effect and excludes a person from the community. It thus provides for the emergence of secondary deviance and is thus related to the
Defiance Theory (Sherman)
According to the Defiance Theory, punishment can have three different effects. Punishment can have a deterrent effect and thus have the desired success. Punishment can be ineffective, i.e. have no influence on the subsequent committing of crimes. Punishment can cause a reaction of defiance. Thus punishment intensifies deviant behaviour. Which
Routine Activity Theory (RAT)
The Routine Activity Theory states that the occurrence of a crime is likely if there is a motivated offender and a suitable target, with the simultaneous absence of a capable guardian. Main proponents Lawrence E. Cohen, Marcus Felson, Ronald V. Clarke Theory According to Cohen and Felson, crime rates depend
