Causes of Delinquency

In Causes of Delinquency, Hirschi attempts to state and test a theory of delinquency, seeing in the delinquent a person relatively free of the intimate attachments, the aspirations, and the moral beliefs that bind most people to a life within the law. In prominent alternative theories, the delinquent appears either as a frustrated striver forced into delinquency by his acceptance of the goals common to us all, or as an innocent foreigner attempting to obey the rules of a society that is not in position to make the law or define conduct as good or evil. Hirschi analyzes a large body of data on delinquency collected in Western Contra Costa County, California, contrasting throughout the assumptions of the strain, control, and cultural deviance theories. He outlines the assumptions of these theories and discusses the logical and empirical difficulties attributed to each of them. Then draws from sources an outline of social control theory, the theory that informs the subsequent analysis and which is advocated here.

Often listed as a "Citation Classic," Causes of Delinquency retains its force and cogency with age. It is an important volume and a necessary addition to the libraries of sociologists, criminologists, scholars and students in the area of delinquency.

According to the author, the theory of delinquency described in this book "sees the delinquent as a person relatively free of the intimate attachments, the aspirations, and the moral beliefs that bind most people to a life within the law." The author, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Arizona, analyzes a large body of data collected in Western Contra Costa County, California, examining assumptions of strain, control, and cultural deviance theories and outlining social control theory. The book was originally published in 1969 by University of California Press. A new introduction by the author surveys research in the field since 1969. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Travis Hirschi is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Arizona. He is past president of the American Society of Criminology and winner of its Edwin H. Sutherland Award. His previous works, Delinquency Research and Generality of Deviance, were also issued by Transaction.

Travis Hirschi is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Arizona. He is past president of the American Society of Criminology and winner of its Edwin H. Sutherland Award. His previous works, Delinquency Research and Generality of Deviance, were also issued by Transaction.