Emotions in Criminology: A Scoping Review of Definitions and Measurement Approaches

• In Event: Measurement Challenges and Innovations

Abstract

This study investigates current approaches to defining and measuring emotions in criminology. While criminological theories have long identified emotions like anger, humiliation, and excitement as motivators of crime, recent advances challenge assumptions about "universal" emotions and their physical manifestations. Furthermore, inconsistent definitions and measurements make comparing results across studies difficult. To this end, we conducted a scoping review of articles published in the top 20 empirical criminology journals (ranked by 2023 impact factor). Articles were selected if they contained keywords such as anger, jealous*, or shame* in the title or abstract; we then filtered to include only those with an emotion as a variable. Through coding and analysis of the final dataset, we identified prevalent definitional and measurement practices. Based on these findings, we recommend how criminologists could more systematically define and measure emotions. Not only would more systematicity improve our ability to test and refine theory; it would also improve research on evidence-based interventions. By standardizing emotion measurement, researchers would be better positioned to understand the emotion-crime relationship more broadly.

Authors

• Caitlin S. Ducate, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• Mitchell Allen Farrell, The Citadel