Why Crime?

Why Crime? summarizes the latest empirical evidence with regard to the risk factors that produce antisocial and criminal behavior. The author then meaningfully integrates risk factors identified by more than a dozen academic disciplines that increase the odds of antisocial behavior and criminality. The result is a new interdisciplinary theory that helps break down traditional barriers and overcomes the "disciplinary myopia" that plagues criminological theory. That is, this theory allows us to see beyond the discipline of Criminology. Unlike the typical criminological theory text, Why Crime? actually advances the state of criminological theory as well as the field of criminology.

The fourth edition includes summaries of scores of the latest studies on crime from numerous academic disciplines.

There is a set of PowerPoint slides available upon adoption. If you are a professor using this book for a class, please contact Beth Hall at bhall@cap-press.com to request your slides.

Praise for earlier editions:

Whether your interest is macro or micro, society or genes, Why Crime? is a tour-de-force through the criminological literature. Professors Robinson and Beaver have brilliantly explicated the interdisciplinary research on crime in a concise, fun-to-read text.
— Dr. Matt DeLisi, Iowa State University

What Robinson and Beaver have achieved is striking. Not only do they integrate a sound understanding of biology's role in criminal conduct into a broader biosocial paradigm, but they do so in a way readers will find accessible. This book will certainly draw the ire of some, but for serious students of crime it will force a reconsideration of cherished beliefs. For this reason alone, Why Crime? makes a valuable contribution to the study of crime.

— Dr. John Paul Wright, University of Cincinnati

[T]he most ambitious, comprehensive interdisciplinary attempt so far to move integration of criminological theory to new heights.
— Drs. Mark Lanier, University of Central Florida and Stuart Henry, Wayne State University

[E]ngaging, extremely well written, [a] major contribution to criminology… a tour de force for the criminologist who wants to learn something about the biosocial perspective.
— Dr. Anthony Walsh, Boise State University

[The] integrated systems theory ... serves as an example of some of the best work now being done in the area of theory integration."

— Dr. Frank Schmalleger, University of North Carolina Pembroke