Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface -- Introduction -- Introduction to theory -- What is good theory? -- Kinds of theory -- Social context and theory -- Theory, research, and policy -- Summary -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- The classical school -- Introduction -- The heritage of the school -- The perspective of the school -- Classification of the school -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- The Positive School -- Introduction -- The heritage of the school -- The perspective of the school -- Classification of the school -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- The Chicago School -- Introduction -- The heritage of the school -- The perspective of the school -- Classification of the school -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Differential association theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Anomie theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography.

Subculture theories -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theories -- Cohen's subculture of delinquency -- Cloward and Ohlin's Differential Opportunity theory -- Other subculture theories -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Labeling theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Conflict theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Social control theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Social learning theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Summary -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Rational theories -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the theory -- Epilogue: current directions and policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Gender-based theories -- Introduction -- The heritage of the theory -- The theoretical perspective -- Classification of the perspective -- Policy implications -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Contemporary theories I: Updating older perspectives -- Introduction -- The social and intellectual context of new theory -- Modern strain theory -- Modern social control theory -- Modern developmental theories -- Conclusion -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Contemporary theories II: Diversity in theory -- Introduction -- Integrative theories -- Peacemaking criminology -- Postmodern theories -- Cultural criminology -- Metatheory -- Conclusions -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- The future of criminological theory -- Introduction -- The heritage of contemporary theory -- The integration of theory -- Conclusions -- Critical thinking questions -- Bibliography -- Index.