Cognition pertains to reasoning, attributions, self-evaluation, expectations, understanding and appraisal of the world, and values. Four decades of research indicate that many offenders have developmental delays in acquiring a number of cognitive skills essential to social adaptation. The cognitive model can integrate the apparently divergent views of crime which give varying emphasis to sociological, environmental, neurological, nutritional, and psychological factors in criminal behavior. All of these dimensions affect persons' cognitive development. Most sociological explanations of crime, however, offer few practical suggestions for crime prevention or offender rehabilitation except through large-scale social change. The cognitive model, on the other hand, suggests that both prevention and rehabilitation can be achieved through education. 14 references.