Review Lifecourse Framework Review Sampson and Laub Terrie
Review Lifecourse Framework Review Sampson and Laub Terrie Moffitt’s Theory
Lifecourse Theory I • Must explain why there is stability (continuity) in antisocial behavior • Must explain childhood precursors to offending (childhood antisocial behavior) • Must explain desistence, or “change”
Lifecourse Theory II • Types of Lifecourse Theories (From Cullen and Agnew) 1. Stability Theories (Trait) 2. Stability and Change Theories (Sampson and Laub) 3. Stability or Change Theories (Moffitt)
Sampson and Laub • Important/Popular book: Crime in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points Through Life – First to fully outline “lifecourse” criminology – Put forth a lifecourse theory – Use “Glueck data” to test theory
Pathways and Turning Points • Pathways = stability • Turning Points = opportunity for change
Sampson and Laub’s “Age Graded Theory of Informal Social Control” • In what sense is theory “age graded? ” • What does “Informal Social Control” mean?
Sampson and Laub Childhood Context Individual Differences Adolescence Parenting • Supervision • Discipline Social Bonds • Family • School • Delinquent Peers Delinquency Length of Incarceration Adulthood Adult Crime Social Bonds • Marriage • Good Job
Continuity • Stability of Trajectory – Individual differences (traits) possible – Cumulative Continuity • Delinquency/crime has effect on “adult social bonds” • Delinquency/crime can lead to incarceration, which also has effect on adult social bonds • These bonds, in turn, have effect on future crime
Change • Turning Points = Adult Social Bonds – Quality Marriage – Quality Employment • Why would these things reduce crime? – S&L: they increase informal control (bind individuals to society, give them something to lose) – Other explanations (spend less time with criminal friends, etc. )
Terrie Moffitt • A Stability or Change Theory • Argument: – There are 2 different “kinds” of offenders in the world – These types can be characterized by their unique “offending trajectories” • Failure of Mainstream Criminology? – During adolescence, these two groups look rather similar
Moffitt’s 2 Groups of Offenders • LCP’s – Early Start, Stable over lifecourse, 5% of general population (small group) – Therefore… • Why start so early? Why so stable? • AL’s – Late starters, desist in adulthood, very prevalent in population – Therefore…. • Why start so late? Why desist right away?
Explaining the LCP trajectory • Presence of “Neuropsychological Deficits” – Where do they come from? – Why do they matter? INTERACTING WITH • Ineffective Parenting – Monitoring, supervision, etc. • This “dual hazard” puts them on bad path…however…
Cumulative Continuity for LCP’s • What in the environment is affected? – Peer Rejection – School Failure – Parenting • THEREFORE – Cumulative continuity – Contemporary continuity (still have N. P. Deficit, personality traits)
Explaining the AL’s • Maturity Gap – Knifing off Bonds as “rewarding” • Mimic • Why do AL’s desist? • However, some may exhibit continuity – “Snares” as another example of cumulative continuity
Patterson II: Revnege of Gerald • We’ve covered his “early starter” theory already. • Late Starters? – Family Disruption affects parental efficacy – Lack of Supervision exposes kids to delinquent peers
Key Moffitt Questions • Why do we need 2 theories? • How does she account for stability and change? • Specific explanations of LCP and AL offending
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