What makes a criminal a criminal? Can anyone become a criminal? Answering and understanding these questions is the primary job of criminologists, as most of them try to understand why people do certain things (Garland, Sparks 2000). This essay will examine the notion that any person could become a criminal and, in doing so, examine the original question. This essay will present a range of theories that attempt to describe human behavior in relation to criminal behavior given the complexity of the behavior. Several theories will be examined, because no single theory of behavior can fully account for the complexity and diversity of criminal behavior. Theories range from social control, classical theory, biological theory, personality theory, impulse theory, and cognitive theory. The multiple factors that influence the behavior of individuals, particularly criminal behavior, are also taken into account. These include family circumstances, their personality and mental health issues. The essay will examine the roles that society and individuals play in defining and contributing to criminal behavior. Before examining the overall question, it is important to define criminal behavior. Defining criminal behavior is difficult. For the purposes of this essay, the definition of criminal behavior is any person who is “guilty of a crime” (Webster's Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus, 2007). This definition demonstrates the diversity of behaviors considered criminal. This can range from tasting fruit at the market to speeding to swearing at someone out of frustration. Having defined criminal behavior, its general terms, the explanation of this behavior must be equally complete. There are a whole host of theories that attempt to explain behavior in the middle of a paper......table thesis. Criminology, 44(4).Hayes, H. and Prenzler, T. (2009) Introduction to Crime and Criminology (2nd ed.).Pearson Education: Australia NSW7Howitt, D. (2009). Introduction to forensic and criminal psychology (3rd edition). Pearson Education Limited: England. Hunter, D. and Dantzker, M. (2005). Crime and Criminality: Causes and Consequences, Criminal Justice Press. Krueger, A. and Massey, A. (2009). A rational reconstruction of bad behavior: Social Cognition, 27(5). Siegel, J. and Welsh, B. (2009). Juvenile delinquency: theory, practice and law. Wadsworth cengage learning, United States. Treiber, K. (2007). The role of self-control in the causation of crime. European Journal of Criminology, 4(2).Webster's Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus (2007).