Reviewing the Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Criminology Research: A Positivity & Normativity Perspective from an African Researcher

Abstract

As it is characteristic of any societal phenomenon to be well understood by analyzing models, certain frameworks to explain the existence and implications of criminal behaviour have been contrived over the years. This paper, thus, offers a review pertaining to the crucial role of the relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks in comprehending the multifaceted nature of crime, while unraveling the practical and policy response of the human-related phenomenon. By assessing the nature of pertinent frameworks of crime behavior, which this paper commences with, readers can gain a greater appreciation of how they provide structures for crime-related investigations and, more importantly, lenses for the interpretation of crime behavior. Moreover, the paper underscores the interdisciplinary nature of criminology research, showcasing how these frameworks draw from sociology, psychology, economics and law, to construct a holistic understanding of criminal behavior. Challenges and limitations in constructing these frameworks are acknowledged, including bias, ethical considerations, and the evolving landscape of the field. Accordingly, real-world case studies, historical examples, and visual aids are employed to illustrate the practical application of these frameworks, enhancing their potency in knowledge acquisition and in facilitating understanding. By analyzing theoretical perspectives, and structured frameworks of criminal behavior, the paper equally, pinpoints the corresponding policy implications of the phenomenon whose intricate landscape, according to the paper, have been and must continue to be navigated. These tools have been found to illuminate the motivations, societal pressures, and psychological mechanisms, that drives individuals towards or away from criminal acts. 

Received: 26 April 2024 / Accepted: 21 June 2024 / Published: 8 July 2024