The Birth Of Criminology And The Early 19th Century

Since the birth of criminology in the late 19th century, dozens of theorists have offered different perspectives on the different aspects of crime. These theories have had a basis in a wide range of ideas, from biology to sociology, to psychology and even anthropological. Some of these theories have been said to withstand the test of time, and even been used as building blocks for newer theories. Others, however, have been deemed â€Å"bad† theories, or simply have not held up to the passage of time and rapid changes of modern society. The criteria for judging these theories varies. Determining which theory is best would be a difficult task; classifying one as a good theory also can be challenging. It has been said that to determine a good theory, two criteria should be met: the ability to be tested, and which best fits the evidence of research (Akers, 2000; Blalock, 1969; Gibbs, 1972). These are two of five criteria which often are applied in tandem in order to broaden the standards by which theories are judged. Together, the five characterizations are that the theory must be able to be tested, is most fitting to the current research, has sensitizing qualities, makes sense of positions which conflict, and that it be logically sound. This perspective also includes the popularity of a theory as a criteria. For the purpose of this paper, this criteria will not carry any significant weight. Additionally, standards which will be utilized include that the theory be open toShow MoreRelatedPositivism And Classical Crimino logy1069 Words   |  5 PagesIn Criminology there are two main approaches when talking about why criminals commit crime: positivism and classical criminology. 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