Researchers usually explain individual offending in terms of background factors like low self-control and association with delinquent peers. Such factors reflect the routine or typical aspects of the individual's life over an extended period of time and they influence the individual's predisposition for crime. Researchers also sometimes explain…

Challenges leading crime theories by arguing that it is not possible to fully distinguish between different crime theories by focusing on the effect of their independent variables. Argues that such crime theories are best distinguished in terms of their specification of crime motives. Such motives may be positive or negative. Discusses these…