ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The most prevalent explanations of delinquent behavior are sociologically oriented theories. Indeed, criminology, criminal justice, and juvenile justice have grown around sociological perspectives. The reasons for this are understandable. First, the great changes in society during and after the industrial revolution were accompanied by increased levels of deviant behavior. This behavior, however, was more prevalent in the cities. This led to a natural view that deviant behavior was an outgrowth of social relationships, especially those in urban areas. Second, sociological theories hold a great deal of intuitive appeal. Many of the ideas, as will be seen, are based on common sense and do not require a great deal of education or training for simple understanding. A third reason behind the dominance of sociological explanations entails the ability to test such theories. While tests of biologically oriented theories fail to provide empirical support, and psychological theories often defy empirical testing or are restricted to only individuals, most sociological explanations are accompanied by attempts at empirical research and often fi nd some degree of support.
