Social Learning, Social Control, and Strain Theories: A Formalization of Micro-level Criminological Theories
Journal: eScholarship (California Digital Library)
Year: 2010

This dissertation proposes theoretical formalization as a way of enhancing theory development within criminology. Differential association, social learning, social control, and general strain theories are formalized in order to identify assumptions of human nature, key theoretical concepts, theoretical knowledge claims, and scope conditions. The resulting formalization allows greater comparability between theories in terms of explanatory power, and additionally provides insights into integration