Cultural Criminology: A Critical Examination and the Necessity of Transformation toward a Multidimensional Paradigm
Keywords:
Culture, Emotions, Critiques, Multidimensionality, Psychosocial ContextsAbstract
Cultural criminology, as a field that emphasizes the role of culture, emotions, and rationality in understanding the phenomenon of crime, has been accompanied by diverse ideas since its inception. This article aims to examine the evolutionary trajectory of this field, from its foundational premises to its future prospects, by critically analyzing its definitions, historical contexts, and strengths and limitations. In addition, the article places particular emphasis on the necessity of developing multidimensional frameworks for crime analysis that more accurately reflect its inherent complexity. Drawing on textual analysis and the theoretical positions of the pioneers of cultural criminology, as well as the critiques directed at this field, the present study adopts an analytical–historical approach to examine the formation and transformation of cultural criminology. In this context, in addition to reviewing three classical critiques, attention is also devoted to a less frequently discussed criticism concerning the prioritization of symbolic interactionism over socio-psychological concepts. The findings indicate that despite its significant contributions to explaining the role of culture and emotions in the emergence of crime, cultural criminology faces several challenges, including theoretical ambiguity, insufficient attention to structural factors and intersectionality (including gender and social class), and neglect of socio-psychological explanations at the level of individual agency. By contrast, biocentric criminology, as a complementary approach, underscores the necessity of integrating macro, meso, and micro levels in crime analysis. Accordingly, inspired by the perspective of Jonathan Ilan, this article proposes that, in order to overcome existing limitations and develop a comprehensive understanding, cultural criminology must simultaneously incorporate the macro (structural), meso (cultural), and micro (individual) levels into its theoretical and methodological frameworks. Finally, through the presentation of concrete examples, the article offers recommendations for expanding interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening the multidimensional dimension in future research within this field.
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