ABSTRACT

“Theory integration” is defined as the formulation of a new theory, based on at least two other theories. The integration advocated in this book is to apply a wide version of rational choice theory (RCT) in order to find the conditions for the validity of criminological theories (CTs). They become sub-theories of (or integrated with) RCT. Because RCT is a well confirmed theory (Chapter 4) it is to be expected that RCT is capable to deduce CTs in their original or in a modified form. Whether the derived modifications are correct must be tested empirically. RCT is thus not assumed as valid a priori, it can be falsified. Integration is a top-down argument (RCT is used to derive or correct CTs) and a bottom-up argument (the derivations and corrections of the CTs may be wrong so that RCT is falsified). This argument is summarized in Figure 5.1. We suggest five steps of integrating RCT and CTs. It is argued that integrating CTs with each other and that the application of theoretical frameworks are not useful.