Criminology is the scientific study of knowledge in which crime is considered as a social happening. The study of Criminology includes the ways and methods of breaking laws, making laws and social/media/cultural reactions of the society to crime. Like other theories criminological theories are the logical constructions which define the natural phenomenon. Criminological theories measure the crimes, the characteristics of criminals, crime over a time and location and the victims of a crime using various methods and approaches.

Criminological theories are very complex. Most theories of Criminology are introduced from the research studies and the studies of criminal behavior. These theories provide the frame work that helps to understand the ideas about observed patterns and their meaning. Classical Theories by Beccarla on Criminology emphasized that Severe Punishments should be made which will prevent people from committing crime. The severity of punishment should be more than the pleasure of the gains from criminal activities. Positivist Theory by Lombroso, considers the world around the criminals like psychological, social factors and biographical factors of the committed crime. The theory of Chicago School concentrates on the crime behavior that depends on the community which plays a major role on human behavior. There are two methods of study: the first method uses official data and the geographical areas of the city/place and the second method uses life histories as a source.

Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activities Theory considered the motivational factors of the crime. It insists that there are three major elements for a crime such as motivated criminals, the targets and the absence of required guardians. Social Disorganization may cause crimes because the criminal cultures emerge in the society when there is a disorder or control break down and the lack ness in the efficiency of society to fight against crime. Merton’s Strain Theory describes the five modes of adoptions to strain, namely Conformist, Innovator, Ritualists, Retreatists and Rebels, which are caused by the access to socially accepted Goals and Means. Subculture Theories can be considered as an extension of Social Disorganization and Differential association theories which help to understand the emergence of Sub Cultures. Differential Opportunity theory of Cloward and Ohlin, Lower Class Focal Concerns of Miller, Containment Theory of WalterReckless are some of the important theories explained about Criminological Concepts.

Finally, the criminologists continuing their research studies to identify the factors of the increasing crime rates of the society and the facts of the increasing number of individuals who commit crimes.  From all of these studies, we can understand the complexity of the Criminological theories and we can come to a conclusion that only a single factor cannot determine the commitment of a crime by an individual or the high and low rates of crimes of society.