Crime and Behavior

Crime and Behavior combines theories of crime causation with their implications for key policy questions relevant to today's world. The anthology integrates theory and contemporary issues, and provides encyclopedic readings by leading theorists of crime.


The introductory chapter provides an overview of theories that link criminal acts and crime events to individual, social, cultural and structural causes. Each section of Crime and Behavior includes an introduction to the ideas that are presented in the readings that follow.


The first section of the text examines micro-level theories of crime and behavior, specifically individual and social process theories including classical and rational choice theory, and social learning. In the second part of the text, students consider macro-level theories such as social ecology, anomie and strain, and a variety of critical criminological theory from Marxist to anarchist and from feminist to postmodernist explanations.


The interesting, student-friendly articles lay the foundation for a systematic and more profound understanding of the roots of crime in the 21st century.


Crime and Behavior can be used in courses on criminology, sociology of crime and deviance, public affairs, and criminal justice.


Sylvia Valenzuela holds a Ph.D. in criminology, law and society from the University of California, Irvine, and is a lecturer in the Department of Criminal Justice at San Diego State University.

Paul Kaplan has a Ph.D. in criminology, law and society from the University of California, Irvine, and is an associate professor of criminal justice in the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University.

Stuart Henry earned his Ph.D. at the University of Kent, United Kingdom. Dr. Henry is a professor of criminal justice and Director of the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University. He is the author or editor of 28 books, and over 100 professional journal articles on topics ranging from criminological theory and deviant behavior, to law and society, and occupational crime. His books include The Hidden Economy, Criminological Theory, Constitutive Criminology, What is Crime?, Essential Criminology, The Politics of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Social Deviance. Dr. Henry is the current co-editor of Western Criminology Review.