ABSTRACT
Among modern criminological theorists, few have addressed questions about human nature more explicitly than Travis Hirschi. Like all modern social control theorists, Hirschi’s theoretical work begins with human nature assumptions put forth by the classical theorists of the enlightenment age. In this chapter, we trace the history of human nature assumptions from the classical school through modern social control theories. We next examine empirical literature from criminology that supports the classical view of human nature, including the relationship between age and crime, the success of early childhood interventions, the effects of neglect on criminality, and the importance of opportunity as a cause of crime. We then venture outside criminology to examine competing assumptions and the current state of knowledge about human nature across disciplines such as philosophy, economics, psychology/neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. We conclude with a discussion of policy implications and a contemporary example of the continued relevance of classical human nature assumptions.
