How crime can be understood through modern science—and how treatment should fit the person
This is a classic English edition of a foundational work in criminology. Gustav Aschaffenburg, a professor of psychiatry, argues that crime has natural causes just like disease and that punishment must be tailored to the individual. Translated from German and presented with context by editors and scholars, this volume places crime study within psychology, medicine, and sociology, not just law.
- Learn how age, sex, and domestic life influence criminal behavior
- See the shift from an emphasis on free will to a focus on real-world causes and contexts
- Explore how heredity, environment, and mental condition shape outcomes and treatment
- Understand alternatives to harsh penalties, including rehabilitation and indeterminate approaches
Ideal for readers of criminology, law, and psychology who want a historically grounded look at how the science of crime has evolved.