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The study of crime
Introduction This book is about the causes of crime and the diverse and, at times, competing perspectives within criminology that attempt to explain why people engage in crime. This chapter introduces you to the study of crime, which involves understanding not only why people commit crime but also how crime is defined and measured and how we respond to crime. Criminological perspectives can differ on each of these elements. This chapter provides a useful orientation to the study of crime by introducing the various ways crime can be understood, the different emphases in analysing crime, contrasting views on the nature of society, and how theory is developed and used.
Criminology as a field of study Criminology encompasses varied and competing perspectives on why people commit crime and what constitutes criminality. This diversity stems in part from the multiple disciplines that have contributed to the study of crime. Biological science, psychology, philosophy, law, sociology, forensic medicine, political economy, education, history, cultural studies and, more recently, critical algorithm studies have all contributed to the multidisciplinary nature of criminology. Each discipline brings with it concepts, debates and methods when examining a criminological issue or problem. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
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