Michelle PalaroCriminology 81-220-1

Fall 2014

Chapter 9 - Developmental Theories: Life

Course, Propensity, and Trajectory

• Glueck’s– Sampson and Laub

• Wolfgang • Loeber and LeBlanc

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Three Views of Criminal Career Development−Three independent yet interrelated

developmental views:•Life Course Theory•Propensity Theory−Latent trait

•Trajectory Theory

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Population Heterogeneity versus State Dependence– Population heterogeneity

•The propensity to commit crime is stable

– State dependence•The propensity to commit crime is

constantly changing

Foundations of Developmental Theory

Class Discussion/Activity

Do people change or not change over the course of their life?

Which theory do you think is more correct: population heterogeneity or state dependence?

• Relationships and behaviors determine adult life course– Children learn conformity to social

rules and to function effectively in society

– Later begin careers, leave parental homes, find permanent relationships, and marry and begin families

– Transitions take place in order

Life-Course Fundamentals

• Life-Course Theories – Criminality is a dynamic process

•Age of onset–Early onset

•Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS)

•Continuity of crime•Age-graded theory

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Problem Behavior Syndrome– A cluster of antisocial behaviors that

may include family dysfunction, substance abuse, smoking, precocious sexuality and early pregnancy, educational underachievement, suicide attempts, sensation seeking, and unemployment, as well as crime

– Crime is a social problem rather than a result of other social problems

Life-Course Fundamentals

• Age-Graded Theory– Social capital– Cumulative disadvantage– Turning points– Testing age-graded theory– Love, marriage, and criminality

Foundations of Developmental Theory

Foundations of Developmental Theory

•Propensity Theory –Latent traits –Propensity

•Crime and human nature

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Theories that a stable feature, characteristic, property, or condition, present at birth or soon after, makes some people crime-prone over the life course

• State Dependence– Latent trait disrupts normal

socialization

Latent Trait Theories

• General Theory of Crime (GTC)– Michael Gottfredson and Travis

Hirschi•What causes impulsivity/low self-

control to develop?•Learning or biology?•The act and the offender•Testing the General Theory of Crime•Criticisms and questions•Environment and impulsivity

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Critiques – Tautological– Different Classes of Criminals– Ecological Differences– Racial and Gender Differences – Moral Beliefs– Peer Influence – People change– Modest relationship– Cross-cultural differences– Misreads human nature– One of many causes

Analyzing the General Theory of Crime

• Trajectory Theory– Offending trajectories– Pathways to crime

•Authority conflict pathway•Covert pathway•Overt pathway

– Adolescent-limited and life course persistent offenders

– Late starters and abstainers

Foundations of Developmental Theory

Foundations of Developmental Theory

• Social

• Educational

• Family services

Public Policy Implications of Developmental Theory