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Questions and Answers
What is the general pattern of criminal behavior observed during adolescence?
What is the general pattern of criminal behavior observed during adolescence?
What does the age-crime curve suggest about criminal activity in young adults?
What does the age-crime curve suggest about criminal activity in young adults?
Which dimension of criminal careers refers to the initiation of criminal activity?
Which dimension of criminal careers refers to the initiation of criminal activity?
What critique did Gottfredson and Hirschi present regarding the age-crime distribution?
What critique did Gottfredson and Hirschi present regarding the age-crime distribution?
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When do individuals typically experience a peak in criminal behavior according to developmental theories?
When do individuals typically experience a peak in criminal behavior according to developmental theories?
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What is one of the five dimensions of criminal careers that pertains to how many people are involved?
What is one of the five dimensions of criminal careers that pertains to how many people are involved?
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What aspect of criminal careers reflects the continuation and escalation of criminal activity?
What aspect of criminal careers reflects the continuation and escalation of criminal activity?
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What percentage of individuals report involvement in criminal activity by the age of 30 according to prevalence statistics?
What percentage of individuals report involvement in criminal activity by the age of 30 according to prevalence statistics?
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At what age do most individuals experience the peak of self-reported crime?
At what age do most individuals experience the peak of self-reported crime?
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What is the age range for the onset of crime in individuals according to the studies?
What is the age range for the onset of crime in individuals according to the studies?
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What is the average length of a criminal career based on the data provided?
What is the average length of a criminal career based on the data provided?
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According to the content, at what age do individuals generally desist from crime?
According to the content, at what age do individuals generally desist from crime?
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Which of the following theories focuses on self-control in relation to crime?
Which of the following theories focuses on self-control in relation to crime?
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What aspect of criminal careers includes how many people are involved at any level?
What aspect of criminal careers includes how many people are involved at any level?
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Which criminal behavior typically peaks at ages 17-19 according to the content?
Which criminal behavior typically peaks at ages 17-19 according to the content?
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What is meant by 'true desistance' in the context of criminal careers?
What is meant by 'true desistance' in the context of criminal careers?
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Study Notes
Developmental & Life-Course Theories
- Developmental theories attempt to understand patterns of criminal behavior over time
- Research shows criminal activity peaks in adolescence and declines in older age groups (Blumstein et al., 1986; Farrington, Piquero, & Jennings, 2013)
- Some individuals consistently display criminal behavior throughout their lives
- Other individuals exhibit variability in their criminal activity over time (Laub & Sampson, 2003; Sampson & Laub, 1993)
Age-Crime Debate
- The age-crime curve shows an increase in crime rates during adolescence, peaking in mid-to-late teenage years and continuing into early adulthood (Farrington, 1986)
- Emerging adults (18-25) are also relevant to the age-crime curve (Arnet, 2000)
- Critics argue that the age-crime curve might be an artifact of changes in opportunity, and not criminal propensity (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)
- Longitudinal studies are preferred over cross-sectional studies when examining age-crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1983)
Criminal Careers
- Criminal careers are studied by examining early life-history and longitudinal studies (Shaw, 1930; Glueck & Glueck, 1950; Wolfgang, Figlio, & Sellin, 1972)
- Theories seek to explain factors influencing criminal activity (Blumstein et al., 1986)
- Key dimensions include onset (initiation of criminal activity), continuity (continuation/escalation of activity) and change (desistance/termination)
Dimensions of Criminal Careers
- Prevalence: The proportion of people involved in criminal activity (at any level); as high as 96% in self-reported data and 40% in official records by age 30 (Farrington, 2002).
- Frequency: The number of offences committed by actively involved individuals; peaks in adolescence and declines (Piquero, Farrington, & Blumstein, 2003).
- Age of onset: The age at which individuals commit their first crime; ranges from 13-19 (Elliott, Huizinga, & Morse, 1987, Tibbetts & Piquero, 1999).
- Minor crimes peak around ages 13–14, and more serious crimes peak between 17 and 19 (Farrington, 1990)
- Earlier onset is generally connected with higher frequency and longer criminal careers (Farrington et al., 1998; 2013)
- Age of desistance: The age of the last crime committed; ranges from 20-29 (Farrington, 1992) and desistance does not always mean one has stopped offending
- Criminal career length: The duration of a criminal career calculated as the difference between the age of desistance and onset; average lengths vary (Farrington, 1992; Laub & Sampson, 2003).
Key Theories
- Self-control theory: (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)
- Developmental pathways model: (Loeber et al., 1993)
- Integrated cognitive antisocial potential theory: (Farrington, 2005)
- Developmental taxonomy: (Moffitt, 1993)
- Age-graded theory of informal social control: (Sampson & Laub, 1993; 2003)
- Life-course perspective on social learning: (Giordano, 2010)
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Description
Test your knowledge on developmental and life-course theories in relation to criminal behavior. Explore concepts like the age-crime curve and the factors influencing criminality over a lifetime. This quiz covers key research findings and debates surrounding age and crime rates.
