Chapter Nine Developmental Theories Life Course Propensity and

Foundations of Developmental Theory • Research by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck • Sampson and

Foundations of Developmental Theory • Criminal Career Development – Three independent yet interrelated developmental

Foundations of Developmental Theory Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Foundations of Developmental Theory • Population Heterogeneity versus State Dependence – Population heterogeneity •

Class Discussion/Activity • Do people change over their lifetime? • Which theory do you

Life Course Theory • Criminality is a dynamic process – Relationships and behaviors determine

Life Course Theory • Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS) – Antisocial behaviors that cluster together,

Life Course Theory • Continuity of crime – Best predictor of future criminality is

Age-Graded Theory • • Work of Sampson and Laub Turning points Social capital Cumulative

Age-Graded Theory Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Age-Graded Theory • Social schematic theory (SST) • Schemas • Criminogenic knowledge structure (CKS)

Latent Trait/Propensity Theory • Crime and Human Nature by Wilson and Herrnstein • Propensity

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

Class Discussion/Activity • Is self-control is a constant or something that changes? • In

Trajectory Theory • Trajectory Theory – Offending trajectories – Pathways to crime – Three

Trajectory Theory Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Public Policy Implications of Developmental Theory • • • Multisystemic treatment Personal Social Educational

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Foundations of Developmental Theory • Research by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck • Sampson and Laub rediscovered Gluecks in 1990 s • Wolfgang’s Philadelphia cohort research • Loeber and Le Blanc challenged criminologists to answer certain questions Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Foundations of Developmental Theory • Criminal Career Development – Three independent yet interrelated developmental views: • Life Course Theory • Propensity Theory – Latent trait • Trajectory Theory Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

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 Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Class Discussion/Activity • Do people change over their lifetime? • Which theory do you think is more correct: population heterogeneity or state dependence? Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Life Course Theory • Criminality is a dynamic process – 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, enter workforce, find permanent relationships, and marry and begin families • Transitions take place in order – Age of onset: e. g. , early Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Life Course Theory • Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS) – Antisocial behaviors that cluster together, including 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 product of other social problems Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Life Course Theory • Continuity of crime – Best predictor of future criminality is past criminality – State dependent – Antisocial behavior may be contagious – Systemic life course theories integrate: • • • Personal factors Socialization factors Cognitive factors Situational factors Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Age-Graded Theory • • Work of Sampson and Laub Turning points Social capital Cumulative disadvantage Love, marriage, and criminality Breaking up Marital success How valid is age-graded theory? Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Latent Trait/Propensity Theory • Crime and Human Nature by Wilson and Herrnstein • Propensity Theory – Latent traits control inclination to commit crime – Propensity is stable – Opportunity fluctuates Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

General Theory of Crime (GTC) • General Theory of Crime (GTC) – Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi • Self-control • Impulsivity – 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 Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Trajectory Theory • Trajectory Theory – Offending trajectories – Pathways to crime – Three distinct paths: • Authority conflict pathway • Covert pathway • Overt pathway – Adolescent-limited offenders – Life course persistent offenders – Late starters and abstainers Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

Public Policy Implications of Developmental Theory • • • Multisystemic treatment Personal Social Educational Family services Intervention promotes – Academic success – Social competence – Educational enhancement • Improve developmental skills Copyright © 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.