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Investigate life-course and latent trait theories in criminal behavior development, analyzing factors influencing behavior changes and pathways to crime. Study age of onset and continuity, adolescent-limited offenders, and specialists versus generalists. Delve into Criminal Life Course Theory, including Age-Graded and Social Capital concepts, and Latent Trait Theory with origins and influences of personal attributes on criminal tendencies. Examine Crime and Human Nature by James Wilson, highlighting the role of biological and psychological traits. Consider General Theory of Crime's impulsive personality and self-control traits in understanding criminal behavior.
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Developmental Theories:Life-Course / Latent Trait SOC 112 Chapter 9
Developmental • Criminal behavior - originates primarily in personality - others environmental / situational factors a. Focus - natural history of a criminal career - onset / continuation / termination b. Foundations - Sheldon / Eleanor Glueck - evolution of criminality
Develop, cont. - start / stop / continue / escalate / deescalate c. “Life-Course Theory” - begin relationships / behaviors accepted - developmental process (1) Factors that influence behavior - change (2) Characteristics / traits / experiences / - behavior changes over the life course - let evil spirits escape
Develop, cont. (3) Problem Behavior Syndrome - crime is interrelated - family dysfunction / physical-sexual abuse / substance abuse / smoking / educational underachievement / etc. (4) ExhibitPBS - more difficulties / general population (5) Greater propensity for criminality - damaging factors - changes made
Develop, cont. d. Pathways to crime - Rolf Loeber - three distinct pathways - beginning of a criminal career (1) Authority conflict pathway - stubborn / defiant / disobedient - leads to authority avoidance (2) Covert pathway - minor offenses = more serious forms - theft / drugs / burglary / etc.
Develop, cont. (3) Overt pathway - escalates to aggressive acts - aggression = physical = violence e. Specialists / generalists - personal crime / property crime - any type of crime f. Age of onset / continuity - seeds of criminal career planted early - earlier start = greater chance into adult
Develop, cont. (1) Adolescent-limited offenders (T. Moffitt) - typical teenager - minor offenses - age out (2) Life-course persisters - offend early = continue to offend (3) Late bloomers - not until late teenage years - become violent persisters
Develop, cont. 2. Criminal Life Course Theory - integrated theories A. Age-Graded (Sampson / Laub) - maintenance of a criminal career - affected by events later in life B. Social capital - connections with society - friends / job / marriage = influence - criminals do not have “turning points”
Develop, cont. C. Latent Trait Theory - personal attribute / characteristic - control inclination / propensity to crime (1) Feature present at birth / soon after - characteristic / feature / condition - guides / shapes behavior (2) Defective intelligence / damaged personality / genetic abnormalities / brain dysfunction / etc.
Develop, cont. D. Crime and human nature (James Wilson) - all human behavior - based on perceived consequences - biological / psychological traits influence (1) Elusive trait - predisposes - commit crimes E. General Theory of Crime - two latent traits - impulsive personality / lack self-control
Develop, cont. (1) Immediate gratification - impulsive / insensitive - risk takers (2) Poor child-rearing
