This chapter considers why people commit crime. It reviews the most common explanations for criminal behavior utilized by criminologists. These theories cover a range of explanations including Rational Choice theories suggesting that offenders make a decision to commit crimes, and Positivist explanations where the biological and psychological makeup as well as social environment predispose individuals to criminality. Theories that examine the society itself and how unequal circumstances allow for greater criminality amongst those who are more disadvantaged are also explored. The Integrated theories combine the strongest arguments from traditional crime theories creating a more generally applicable theory of crime. There are many different theories to explain crime and criminality but there is no explanation that is universally applicable which can explain all crimes and all criminal behavior.
