Theories Of Differentiation And Pathology

According to Jeffrey (1960) and Matza (1960) attempts to answer these questions proceed within a framework derived from three fundamental assumptions. These elements provide foundation for most contemporary theories of delinquency and encourage testing theory through scientific methods of research. Determinism that is that crime does not result from rational decision-making but from identifiable forces that may be biological, psychological or sociological. Differentiation and Pathology refers to the idea that criminals are different from that of the ‘normal’ person and these differences are so great that they can be referred to as pathologically ill (Burfeind, ) .The Chicago school was the first significant shift to this pathological approach.