Criminologists are scientists who study crime. To do this they try to use the scientific method whenever possible. In the scientific method the individual first formulates a hypothesis to explain why something happens or even why something happens. In the case of criminology the main question asked is “why does crime occur?”, but some theories also attempt to answer another equally interesting question “if being a criminal is an easy choice, why do so many people respect the law?” to understand criminal behavior. In order for a hypothesis to be advanced into the category of a theory, it must first be tested, and such tests must be able to be reconfirmed. In the case of criminology, most of these tests are done by looking at statistics, because it is not the type of test that can be done safely through experimentation. These theories can then be used to create social policies and attempt to limit crime. Three popular theories in criminology are strain theory, social bond theory, and differential association theory. Behind the strain theory is the idea of ​​a cultural goal. The cultural goal of our societies is to accumulate wealth and achieve success. We are led to believe that this goal is achievable by all individuals, but not all individuals are offered the same opportunities and the same tools to achieve the cultural goal. When an individual is prevented from achieving the cultural goal, tension develops. Individuals address this tension with adaptations as a way to bridge the gap between their means and the cultural goal. An individual may choose to resort to illegal means to achieve the cultural goal. This type of individual is called an innovator and includes drug dealers, illegal gun trafficking and other crimes... half of the card... insurance has occurred, the number of times the individual has been exposed and for how long each exposure took place. This can be seen as a ratio between criminal definitions and conformist definitions. When the relationship favors criminal definitions, the individual is more likely to exhibit deviant behavior. This theory supports programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters that give children exposure at a young age to conformist definitions that they may not receive at home. There are numerous theories that attempt to explain the causes of crime and how it might be reduced. These theories, such as social bonding, differential association, and strain theory, not only allow for establishing policies, but also give a direction for further research. With this research comes more hypotheses which in turn will lead to new and more useful theories on which we will base policies in the future..