Exploring Terrorism through Criminological Theories
Clairissa Breen

Abstract
This paper is a theoretical examination of terrorism using aspects of strain, control, and learning theories. This paper argues that, despite difficulties in defining terrorism within the confines of the criminological discourse and identifying terrorists as criminals, these theories can explain the formation and continuation of terrorist groups, as well as why an individual may decide to become a terrorist. Specifically, strain and control theories apply to terrorism recruitment and why individuals join terrorist groups or become active in terrorism. Learning theories are used to examine the role of both formal and informal terrorist training camps and school. They can also be applied to the prevalence of information-sharing through the Internet, both for members of terrorist groups and for those individuals who seek to become involved in terrorist activity without membership in an organization.

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