As a result of reading this chapter, you will be able to:

1.  Explain the importance of criminology and how research contributes to public policy

2.  Distinguish between the classical and positivist schools of criminology and their explanations for criminality

3.  Delineate the various biological theories of crime, to include Lombroso's "born criminal," the "criminal" chromosome, and studies of body types

4.  Review the psychological explanations of crime

5.  Discuss the several social and cultural explanations of crime-generally how living in social groups might shape people's behavior

6.  Review the fundamental aspects of feminist theory-the explanation for women becoming much more engaged in criminal activities since the 1970s

7.  Describe the nature and types of white-collar crime

8.  Explain the three primary methods for measuring crime and advantages and disadvantages of each