The Company We Keep: The Small World of Criminological Theory

• In Event: Using Novel Methods and Measures to Study Offending Types and Trajectories

Abstract

Many argue that criminology remains resistant to new theories that break from dominant sociological underpinnings. One could surmise that mainstream criminological theory is inspired by a somewhat small group of highly influential individuals, who, over decades, impact several different factions of theorists. This type of network is described as a small world, and can be relatively resistant to change. Using social network analysis, we test this assumption by creating a network of criminological theorists using several different types of social ties. Findings show that criminology can, in fact, be characterized as a small world. A limited number of influential individuals reach several different factions of theorists through a relatively short number of steps. Implications for the field are discussed.

Authors

• Christopher Jay Bates, California State University, Long Beach

• Dina Perrone, California State University, Long Beach

• Aili Malm, California State University, Long Beach