As the offspring of sociology, it is understandable that criminology focuses on sociological theories. Sociological theories focus on groups, and their opportunities or lack thereof to explain crime. Criminology has traditionally relegated psychological and biological theories of crime to the periphery. However, these theories may prove useful in attempting to explain crime on the individual level, where sociological theories fall short. Over time, psychological and biological theories of criminality have used increasingly rigorous scientific methods to test hypotheses and analyze data. It is clear that sociological, psychological, and biological theories of crime are not competing for prominence in criminology; rather they are seeking to address different aspects of the same questions. As such, it would benefit the discipline to give equal consideration to all three perspectives in seeking to explain crime and criminality.
