Developmental & Life-Course Theories PDF

Developmental & Life-Course Theories Chapter 14 DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CRIMINOLOGY  Developmental Taxonomy  Terrie Moffitt  Schmidt‐Nielsen Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University  Professor of Social Behavior & Development,...

Developmental & Life-Course Theories Chapter 14 DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CRIMINOLOGY  Developmental Taxonomy  Terrie Moffitt  Schmidt‐Nielsen Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University  Professor of Social Behavior & Development, King’s College London  Awards & Honors  Stockholm Prize in Criminology (2007)  Fellow, American Society of Criminology (2003)  Fellow, American Academy of Political & Social Science (2008)  One of 1st efforts to identify different patterns in criminality at different ages or developmental stages in the life-course  Developmental or “dual taxonomy theory” of crime LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Moffitt (1993) posits a “dual taxonomy” of offending to attempt to explain developmental processes that produce the age-crime curve  2 Distinct Groups (i.e., a “dual taxonomy”)  Adolescence‐limited offenders (AL)  Exhibit changes in criminal activity over time  Onset occurs in early adolescence  Desistance occurs when adolescent matures into young adulthood  Life‐course persistent offenders (LCP)  Conduct disorders in infancy &/or early childhood  Continues to engage in increasingly serious misconduct & criminal behavior throughout adolescence & into adulthood LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Moffitt (1993) posits a “dual taxonomy” of offending to attempt to explain developmental processes that produce the age-crime curve  2 Distinct Groups (i.e., a “dual taxonomy”) (cont.)  Adolescence‐limited offenders (AL)  Life‐course persistent offenders (LCP) LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Life-course persistent offenders (LCP)  Only a small percentage of all youth are LCP delinquents  Some biological/ genetic basis for LCP (vs. ALs), rooted in neuropsychology & developmental psychology:  Abnormalities in neural development  ↑neuropsychological deficits  ↑Neuropsychological deficits  ↓verbal ability & ↓execu ve func oning*  *Self‐control [& hyperactivity], temperament, & impulsivity  ↓Cogni ve func oning  ↑an social/ conduct disorders in childhood  ↑Childhood an social behavior  ↑persistence into adulthood  “If a child who ‘steps off on the wrong foot’ remains on an ill‐starred path, subsequent stepping‐ stone experiences may culminate in life‐course persistent antisocial behavior” (Moffitt, 1993: 682)  Only a slight peer influence for LCP delinquents LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Adolescence-limited offenders (AL)  Vast majority of all youth are AL delinquents  Causes of AL delinquency rooted in maturity gap  Period when no longer a child, but has not attained ‘adult status’*  *Desire to be in sexual relationships, have own money, be autonomous [from parents] in decision making, & have “respect” given to adults  ↑Gap length due to ↓ puberty age + ↑need/ period of educa on & training  Faced with maturity gap, ALs observe  LCP youth ↑likely to have achieved some desired goals (i.e., early sexual behavior, illicitly acquired money/ goods, & disregard parental authority)  See delinquency as “pathway” to adulthood  Learn delinquency from LCPs via process of social mimicry  ALs more strongly influenced by peers LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Adolescence-limited offenders (AL) (cont.)  Learn delinquency from LCPs through process of social mimicry  ALs more strongly influenced by peers (v. LCPs) LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Adolescence-limited offenders (AL) (cont.)  Vast majority of all youth are AL delinquents  Causes of AL delinquency rooted in maturity gap  ALs do not have deficits like LCP youth  As ALs youth age, they gain ↑access to legi mate adult roles/ status  Thus, motivation for delinquency – a ‘pathway to adulthood’ – decreases  ↑Conformity [↓deviance] with ↑stakes in conformity (i.e., adult roles)  ∴ Desistance by in young adulthood  Desistance by default – ALs “wake up one day & find that their lives have been transformed & that criminal activity has become an increasingly distant reality” (Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, 2007: 330)  Summary – Empirical Evidence  Overwhelming support for AL/ LCP “groups” & subgroups*  *Chronic & late‐onset + sporadic offenders LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  Developmental Taxonomy  Summary – Empirical Evidence (cont.)  Overwhelming support for AL/ LCP “groups” & subgroups* LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO  For This Week…  For Wednesday & Friday (Nov. 27th & 29th):  NO Class – Thanksgiving Break LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO