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
situation
Deterrence theories
Deterrence theories argue that the punishment of crimes results in both actual and potential perpetrators avoiding crime in the future. Main Proponents Cesare Beccaria, Jeremy Bentham, Franz von Liszt, Jack P. Gibbs, Alex Piquero, Raymond Paternoster, Stephan Tibbetts, M.C. Stafford, M. Warr, etc. Theory Deterrence theories are based on the
Rational Choice Theory
Criminology’s application of the Rational Choice Theory sees crime as the result of individual rational consideration of the expected benefits and costs of criminal activity. Main Proponents Gary S. Becker, Derek Cornish, Ronald Clarke, u.a. Theory The thesis of ‘Rational Choice’ is an economic, general theory of action. In general,
Edgework (Lyng)
Edgework is a socio-psychological concept that understands voluntary risk taking as a temporary escape from social boundaries and the search for mental and/or physical borderline experiences. Main proponent Stephen Lyng Theory Edgework is not a crime theory in the strict sense of the word. Rather, it is a concept of
Cultural Criminology
Cultural criminology is not a crime theory in the narrower sense. Rather, it is a theoretical current that has emerged in the English-speaking world and, based on cultural studies and critical theories of criminality, understands deviance and phenomena of crime control as an interactionist, symbol-mediated process and analyses them with
Seductions of Crime (Katz)
The central thesis of Seductions of Crime is that situation-specific emotional and sensual sensations play an important role in the commission of crime. It is not a complete theoretical construct, but rather the sensual experiences and emotional states of the perpetrator that are brought to bear in various forms of
