---
product_id: 5330972
title: "A General Theory of Crime"
brand: "brand: stanford university press"
price: "$57.98"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
category: "Paperback"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/5330972-a-general-theory-of-crime
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# A General Theory of Crime

**Brand:** brand: stanford university press
**Price:** $57.98
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** A General Theory of Crime by brand: stanford university press
- **How much does it cost?** $57.98 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/5330972-a-general-theory-of-crime)

## Best For

- brand: stanford university press enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted brand: stanford university press brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

By articulating a general theory of crime and related behavior, the authors present a new and comprehensive statement of what the criminological enterprise should be about. They argue that prevalent academic criminology―whether sociological, psychological, biological, or economic―has been unable to provide believable explanations of criminal behavior.The long-discarded classical tradition in criminology was based on choice and free will, and saw crime as the natural consequence of unrestrained human tendencies to seek pleasure and to avoid pain. It concerned itself with the nature of crime and paid little attention to the criminal. The scientific, or disciplinary, tradition is based on causation and determinism, and has dominated twentieth-century criminology. It concerns itself with the nature of the criminal and pays little attention to the crime itself. Though the two traditions are considered incompatible, this book brings classical and modern criminology together by requiring that their conceptions be consistent with each other and with the results of research.The authors explore the essential nature of crime, finding that scientific and popular conceptions of crime are misleading, and they assess the truth of disciplinary claims about crime, concluding that such claims are contrary to the nature of crime and, interestingly enough, to the data produced by the disciplines themselves. They then put forward their own theory of crime, which asserts that the essential element of criminality is the absence of self-control. Persons with high self-control consider the long-term consequences of their behavior; those with low self-control do not. Such control is learned, usually early in life, and once learned, is highly resistant to change. In the remainder of the book, the authors apply their theory to the persistent problems of criminology. Why are men, adolescents, and minorities more likely than their counterparts to commit criminal acts? What is the role of the school in the causation of delinquincy? To what extent could crime be reduced by providing meaningful work? Why do some societies have much lower crime rates than others? Does white-collar crime require its own theory? Is there such a thing as organized crime? In all cases, the theory forces fundamental reconsideration of the conventional wisdom of academians and crimina justic practitioners. The authors conclude by exploring the implications of the theory for the future study and control of crime.

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Images

![A General Theory of Crime - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41BuYBzmlmL.jpg)

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/5330972-a-general-theory-of-crime](https://www.desertcart.us/products/5330972-a-general-theory-of-crime)

---

*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-07*