Gresham Sykes

Gresham M. Sykes ( born May 26, 1922 in Plainfield, New Jersey, † October 29, 2010 in Charlottesville, Virginia) was an American sociologist and criminologist.

Sykes studied sociology at Princeton University ( BA degree 1950) and Northwestern University ( Ph.D. graduation to 1954). After that, he taught at various universities, including the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Since 1974 he was a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia (emeritus since 1988).

With his fundamental contribution to the culture of prison life ( " Society of Captives "), and (together with David Matza ) the theory of neutralization Sykes was in two respects a classic in the textbook criminology.

1980, it was awarded the " Edwin H. Sutherland Award" of the "American Society of Criminology ."

Works (selection)

  • Techniques of neutralization: a theory of delinquency ( 1957 - with David Matza ); German translation: Techniques of neutralization. A theory of delinquency. In: Criminal Sociology. F. Sack and R. King. Frankfurt am Main, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, 1968.
  • The Society of Captives: A Study of a Maximum Security Prison (1958).
  • Criminology (1978 - Robert K. Merton )
Plainfield (New Jersey) Bachelor's degree
279571
de