CCJ 6920 Section 3360
CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office Hours:
Marv Krohn
3340 Turlington Hall
294-7178
mkrohn@ufl.edu
T 1-3 & Wed 9-11
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Theories of crime and the reaction to deviance will be explored and critiqued in order to acquire an understanding
of their historical background, their assumptions about society and human nature, and the logical and empirical
adequacy of their explanations of crime.
REQUIREMENTS:
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Reading, understanding and discussing assignments (20%).
o I am a firm believer that the best way to learn and understand theory is by reading and talking
about it. Therefore, reading and discussing the assignments is extremely important in this seminar.
The only way to get a good grade is to do the reading assignments every week and be willing to join
in the discussion during class. If you are absent you cannot participate so you are expected to
attend every class. If you have a legitimate excuse for non-attendance I need to be notified about it.
Annotated bibliography of research studies (10%)
o Each student will be assigned a theory. The student will read and review three research articles
published since 2005 (if at all possible), summarize them in no more than two pages, and distribute
copies of those summaries to all members of the seminar. In addition the student will list 5
additional studies per article (15 total) that are referenced in the article. In this way, all members
of the seminar will have the beginnings of a bibliography of research on the theories we explore.
This material is due on the day that we are scheduled to discuss the theory.
Essay Questions (30%)
There will be two essay questions (worth 15 % each of your course grade) to which you will have to
respond with a maximum of a ten page answer. The questions are intended to simulate
comprehensive exam questions. I would like you to complete the essay within a 6 hour period
(which is what you will have when you take comprehensive exams) although you will have a 24
hour period to turn in the assignment since schedules may vary. You are expected to use all
resources you have at your disposal. Because this is an open-book/note exam, I am expecting more
than just a regurgitation of material. You should critically analyze the material and not just simply
review it.
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Seminar paper and critique (40%)
o See attached sheet
READING MATERIALS:
1. Akers, Ronald L. and Christine S. Sellers 2009. Criminological Theories. Sixth Edition. New York: Oxford
University Press
2. Kubrin, Charis E., Thomas D. Stucky, and Marvin D. Krohn 2009. Researching Theories of Crime and
Deviance. New York: Oxford University Press.
3. Cullen, Frank T.,Robert Agnew and Pamela Wilcox 2014 Criminological Theory (Fifth Edition). New York:
Oxford University Press.
4. Additional Reading Assignments will be posted on Sakai.
OUTLINE OF READING ASSIGNMENTS:
August 26: Overview of the Course
September 2: Introduction to Criminological Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
A & S: Chapter 1
Kubrin et al: Chapter 1
CAW: Part 1
Paternoster and Bachman 2001.“The structure and relevance of theory in criminology” In Explaining
Criminals and Crime: Essays in Contemporary Criminological Theory. edited by R. Paternoster and Ronet
Bachman. Los Angeles, CA
September 9: The Chicago School
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Kubrin et al: Chapter 4
CAW: ch 7
Park, R.E. 1936 “Human Ecology.” American Journal of Sociology 42: 1-15.
Park, R.C. and E. W. Burgess. The City. Chicago: the University of Chicago Press. (Ch 2 and 9.)
Finestone, H. 1976. “The delinquent and society: The Shaw and McKay tradition.” In Delinquency Crime and
Society, edited by J. F. Short. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
6. Kornhauser, R.R. 1978. Social Sources of Delinquency: An Appraisal of Analytic Models. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press. (Pp. 51-82.)
September 16: Social Control Theory
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A and S: Ch. 6
Kubrin et al.: Ch 7
CAW: Ch 17, 18 and 19
E. Durkheim 1933. The Division of Labor in Society. New York: The Free Press. Pp. 353-385.
E. Durkheim. 1951. Suicide. New York: The Free Press. Pp. 241-276.
Hirschi, T. and M. Gottfredson 2006 “Social control and self-control theory.” Pp. 111-128 in S. Henry and
M.M. Lanier (eds.) The Essential Criminology Reader. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
September 23: Differential Association and Social Learning Theories
1.
2.
3.
4.
A and S: Chapter 5
Kubrin et al.: Chapter 6
CAW: Ch. 10 and 11
Patterson, G. et al. 1992. A Social Interactional Approach, Vol 4: Antisocial Boys. Eugene Or. Castalia
Publishing. Pp 1-14.
5. Krohn, M.D. 1999. “Social learning theory: The continuing development of a perspective.” Theoretical
Criminology 3:462-476.
September 30: The Return of the Chicago School
1. CAW: Ch. 8 and 9
2. Bursik, R. J. 1988. “Social disorganization and theories of crime and delinquency: Problems and prospects.”
Criminology 26:519-551.
3. Cohen, L. and M. Felson. 1979. Social changes and crime rate trends: A routine activities approach.
American Sociological Review 44:588-608
4. Krohn, M.D. “The web of conformity: A network approach to the explanation of delinquent behavior.” Social
Problems 33:S81-S-93.
5. Sampson, R.J. and W.B. Groves 1989. “Community structure and crime: testing social-disorganization
theory.” American Journal of Sociology 94:774-802.
6. Schuerman, L and S. Kobrin. 1986. “Community careers in crime.” In Communities and Crime, edited by A.J.
Reiss and M. Tonry. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Pp 67-100)
October 7:
1. Paper proposals – Each student will have 10 to 15 minutes to present proposals for their seminar
paper. The members of the seminar will then discuss each proposal.
2. Discussion of expectations for Essay Question #1
October 12th – Essay Question #1 due.
October 14: Strain Theories: Structural Approaches
1.
2.
3.
4.
Kubrin et al.: Chapter 5
CAW: Ch 13,15
Review Durkheim
Bernard, T. 1995. “Merton versus Hirschi: Who is Faithful to Durkheim’s heritage.” Pp 81-90. In The Legacy
of Anomie Theory, ed Freda Adler and William S. Laufer. New Brunswick. Transaction
October 21: Strain Theories: Social Psychological Approaches
1. A and S: Chapter 8
2. CAW: Ch 14 and 16
October 28: Labeling Theory
1.
2.
3.
4.
A and S: Ch. 7
Kubrin et al.: Ch. 8
CAW.: Ch 20, 21, and 22
Paternoster, R. and L. Iovanni 1989. “The labeling perspective and delinquency: An elaboration of the
theory and assessment of the evidence.” Justice Quarterly 6:359-394.
5. Krohn, M.D., Lopes, G., & Ward, J.T. 2012 “ Effects of police intervention on later offending.” In D. P.
Farrington & J. Murray (eds.) Advances in Criminological Theory. Oxford Press.
November 4: Conflict and Feminist Theory
1. A and S: Ch 9, 10, 11
2. Kubrin et al.: Ch 9
3. CAW: Ch 23,24,25,27, 28, 29
November 11: Biological and Evolutionary Theories of Crime

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A and S: Ch 3
CAW: Ch 4,5,6
Daly, M. and M. Wilson 1997 “Crime and conflict: Homicide in evolutionary psychological perspective.”
Crime and Justice 22:51-100.
Durrant, R. and T. Ward. 2012 “The role of evolutionary explanations in criminology.” Journal of Theoretical
and Philosophical Criminology 4:1-37.
Belsky, J. and K. M. Beaver 2011 “Cumulative-genetic plasticity, parenting, and adolescent self-regulation.”
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 52:619-626.
Beaver, K. and E. Connolly 2013 “Genetic and environmental influences on the development of childhood
antisocial behavior: Current evidence and directions for future research.” In C.L. Gibson and M.D. Krohn
(eds.) Handbook of Life-Course Criminology: Emerging Trends and Directions for Future Research. New York:
Springer.
November 18: Integrated Theory (***Seminar Papers Due***)
1. A and S Ch. 12
2. CAW Ch, 45, and 46
3. Liska et al. 1989. “Strategies and requisites for theoretical integration in the study of crime and deviance.”
In Theoretical Integration in the Study of Deviance and Crime: Problems and Prospects, ed by S.Messner et al.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press.
4. Bernard, T. J. and J. B. Snipes. 1996. “Theoretical integration in criminology.” Crime and Justice 20:301-348.
November 26: No Class
December 2: Developmental and Life-Course Theories
1. CAW: Ch 40 and 41
2. Elder, G H. Jr. 1994 “Time, human agency, and social change: Perspectives on the life course.” Social
Psychology Quarterly 57:4-15.
3. Farrington, D. P. 2005. “Introduction to integrated developmental and life course theories of offending.” Pp
1-14 in D. Farrington (ed.) Integrated Developmental and Life-Course Theories of Offending. New Brunswick,
NJ: Transaction.
4. Farrington, D. P. 2005. “The integrated cognitive antisocial potential (ICAP) theory.” Pp 73-92 in
Farrington (see above cite).
5. Thornberry, T.P. and M. D. Krohn 2005. “Applying interactional theory to the explanation of continuity and
change in antisocial behavior.” Pp 183-210 in Farrington (see above cite).
December 7th: Essay Question #2 due