The Evolution of Criminological Theories
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THE EVOLUTION OF CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES by Jonathon M. Heidt B.A., University of Montana, 2000 M.A., Simon Fraser University, 2004 DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the School of Criminology Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences © Jonathon Heidt 2011 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Fall 2011 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for "Fair Dealing." Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. APPROVAL Name: Jonathon Heidt Degree: Doctor of Philosophy Title of Thesis: The Evolution of Criminological Theories Examining Committee: Chair: William Glackman, PhD Associate Professor _______________________________________________ Robert M. Gordon, PhD Senior Supervisor Director, School of Criminology _______________________________________________ Brian Burtch, PhD Supervisor Professor _______________________________________________ Eric Beauregard, PhD Supervisor Associate Professor _______________________________________________ Stephen D. Hart, PhD Internal Examiner Professor Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University _______________________________________________ David G. Wagner, PhD External Examiner Professor Department of Sociology, State University of New York Date Defended/Approved: _______________________________________________ ii Partial Copyright Licence ABSTRACT Since the 1970s, the field of criminology has produced numerous philosophies, theories, and research programs. This has resulted in unresolved debates over philosophical positions, needless competitive theory testing, an inconsistent use of terminology, and general disarray in the field. These problems have hampered theory development and obscured our understanding of theory growth in criminology. In addition, little has been written about theory building in criminology; this has also contributed to the confusing proliferation of criminological theories. Literature from the philosophy of science can help to alleviate some of the confusion and provide some guidance for theorizing in criminology. In this dissertation, a model of theory growth is proposed and applied to several contemporary research programs relevant to the study of crime and criminality. Wagner‘s (1984) work on theory building in sociology serves as a foundation for the model used in this dissertation. Ideas from the philosophy of science literature (Feyerabend, 1976; Laudan, 1977) and previous work on theory building in criminology (Bernard and Snipes, 1996) have also been incorporated into the model. Research programs that are considered include radical criminology, neoclassical-deterrence and postclassical explanations of crime, psychodynamic, humanist, behaviourist, and moral development research programs from psychology, biosocial explanations of criminality, and developmental-life course theories of crime and criminality. iii The application of this model helps to provide an increased understanding of the history of criminological ideas and is intended to inform future theory building efforts in criminology. Practical implications of the various theories and research programs are also explored. Keywords: Criminological Theory, Philosophy of Science iv DEDICATION This one‘s for H-S... jmh v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have incurred many debts during the time that I was researching and writing this dissertation. First, I must thank the members of my dissertation committee. Dr. Stephen Hart served as the internal-external examiner for the dissertation defense and contributed a variety of useful comments that will influence future work I do. Dr. Eric Beauregard has probably read the largest sampling of my work since he has served on my dissertation committee and both of my comprehensive exam committees. He has always been very generous with his time, and has informed my knowledge of connections between criminological theory and criminal justice system practice. Dr. Brian Burtch provided a great deal of editorial advice and insightful suggestions that helped strengthen my dissertation. In addition, he also provided a great deal of support and advice throughout this process. I always marvel at how I became acquainted with my external examiner, Dr. David Wagner. I initially contacted him through electronic mail while writing my master‘s thesis. He was very kind and spent a great deal of time answering rather complex questions through electronic mail. He also traveled across North America to attend my dissertation defense in person. This helped make a monumental event in my life all the more meaningful. Without knowing it, I actually started this project during my first criminological theory course in graduate school. Dr. Robert M. Gordon was the instructor of this course, and has also been my senior supervisor through my master‘s and doctorate degrees. He was an excellent guide and mentor to me throughout this time, and has done a great job of motivating me to constantly push and refine my thinking about criminological theory and criminology in general. The questions ―Why Not?‖, ―How Come?‖, and ―What If?‖ will undoubtedly guide, shape and push my thinking for the rest of my career, if not longer. Thank you for everything. vi Several other friends and colleagues also contributed greatly to this project. Thanks to Rebecca Carleton for refining, streamlining, clarifying and adding timelines to the many charts in the dissertation. Thanks also to Edith Wu who spent considerable time wrestling and tampering with the inner workings of Microsoft Word to properly format the charts. Raegan Carmichael read countless papers, drafts and chapters associated with this project. I must also thank my parents for their constant support and encouragement. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval ............................................................................................................................ ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication ...........................................................................................................................v Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables .................................................................................................................. xiii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Defining the Puzzle: Challenges to Understanding Theory Growth in Criminology .................................................................................................1 Methods..........................................................................................................................6 The Omission of Sociological Theories of Criminality and Crime: A Justification ..................................................................................................9 Outline of Chapters.....................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Research Programs, Methodological Anarchy, and Criminology ..........13 A Brief History of Theory Building in Criminology..................................................13 Disentangling Terminology, Act I: Theories and Philosophies ................................18 Paradigms and Research Programs in the Social Sciences ........................................21 Orienting Strategy and Its Discontents: Strengths and Weaknesses in Wagner‘s Model of Theory Growth ..........................................................27 Theory Integration in Criminology: Theoretical Mush or Regression Stew? ............35 Fusing Knowledge: Challenges of Formulating Integrated Theories in Criminology ...............................................................................................39 Integrating Philosophies: The Fusion of Orienting Strategies ..................................48 Chapter 3: The Marxist Rebellion in Criminology ......................................................54 The Rise of Radical Criminology ...............................................................................54 Marxism, Science, and Theoretical Research Programs ............................................55 Breaking Away From Functionalism‘s Mechanical Society ......................................57 Early Radical Criminology: Bonger‘s Marxism........................................................61 Understanding Authority: The Conflict-Pluralist Branch of Radical Criminology ...............................................................................................64 Pioneers in Conflict Criminology ...............................................................................70 The New Criminology: Enter the Political Economy................................................79 Marxists in America ...................................................................................................85