Www.cengage.com/cj/siegel Larry J. Siegel Dennis Souther – Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC © Copyright Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter

www.cengage.com/cj/siegel

Larry J. Siegel

Dennis Souther – Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC

© Copyright Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter NineDevelopmental Theories: Life

Course, Propensity, and Trajectory


Chapter NineDevelopmental Theories: Life Course, Propensity, and Trajectory

Robert Wonser

Introduction to Criminology

Crime and Delinquency


• 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



• Population Heterogeneity versus State Dependence

–Population heterogeneity

•The propensity to commit crime is stable.

–State dependence

•The propensity to commit crime is constantly changing.



• 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



• 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.



• Age-Graded Theory

–Social capital

–Cumulative disadvantage

–Turning points

–Testing age-graded theory

–Love, marriage, and criminality





• Propensity Theory

–Latent traits

–Propensity

• Crime and human nature



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

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



• Critiques

–Tautological

–Different Classes of Criminals

–Ecological Differences

–Racial and Gender Differences

–Moral Beliefs

–Peer Influence

Analyzing the General Theory of Crime


• Critiques

–People change

–Modest relationship

–Cross-cultural differences

–Misreads human nature

–One of many causes

Analyzing the General Theory of Crime


• Is self-control is a constant or something that changes?

• Come up with a few different scenarios and think about your reaction in each situation.

–Would your reaction be the same regardless of the day or week?

Class Discussion/Activity


• 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





• Offense Specialization/Generalization• Age of Onset/Continuity of Crime

–Criminal career starts early in life.–Persistent criminal offenders begin

their careers early in life.–Early onset creates a downward spiral –Adolescent-Limited–Life-Course Persisters



• Social

• Educational

• Family services

Public Policy Implications of Developmental Theory

Documents

Www.cengage.com/cj/siegel Larry J. Siegel Dennis Souther – Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC © Copyright Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Chapter