Crime and Human Nature
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | James Q. Wilson, Richard Herrnstein |
| Products | Non-fiction book on criminology |
Crime and Human Nature: The Definitive Study of the Causes of Crime is a 1985 publication authored by political scientist James Q. Wilson and psychologist Richard Herrnstein, examining the origins of criminal behavior.
Summary
Wilson and Herrnstein conduct an extensive analysis and critique of nearly all prominent theories explaining crime causation, with the exception of critical theory. The authors express considerable skepticism toward conventional sociological explanations for crime. They contend that criminal behavior is largely rooted in inherent characteristics of human nature, placing substantial emphasis on the influence of biology and genetics rather than solely psychological or environmental determinants.
Reception
In a review for The New York Times, social scientist John Kaplan characterized the work as "an important book" that serves as a cornerstone for ongoing crime discourse. Reviewer Susan Jaco provided a nuanced evaluation, pointing out that the authors' perspectives can be obscured by the volume of research presented, yet she recognized the book's significance as an exhaustive compilation of major criminological studies spanning five decades.
Impact
Law professor John Monahan praised Crime and Human Nature in 1986 as "the most important book on crime to appear in a decade." That same year, Michael Nietzel and Richard Milich highlighted its uncommon influence for an academic text, noting it had been reviewed by more than 20 outlets by February. The publication rekindled the longstanding nature versus nurture debate within criminology and inspired researcher Herbert Needleman to investigate connections between lead and crime. In 2012, The Washington Post referred to it as "one of [Wilson's] most controversial books."