Which term refers to frameworks explaining the causes and nature of crime?

• A. Deviance
• B. Local Authority
• C. Criminological Theories
• D. Serial Killer

Answer: (C)

Criminological theories are the frameworks that explain why crime happens and what crime is. They bring together different perspectives—biological, psychological, and sociological—showing how a mix of factors in individuals and their environments can lead to offending. Because these theories are specifically designed to unpack the causes of crime and to define how crime is understood in society, they’re the best fit for a question about frameworks that explain both the nature and causes of crime. Deviance refers to acts that violate norms but isn’t limited to crime or its causes; a local authority is an institution, and a serial killer is a type of offender, not a framework for explanation.