Review Lifecourse

Sampson and LaubTerrie 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) Severe (age inappropriate) temper tantrums Deviant/criminal behavior

Must explain desistence, or “change” Antisocial children, but not adults Adults that “age out”

Lifecourse Theory II Types of Lifecourse Theories (From Cullen

and Agnew)

1. Continuity Theories (Trait—G&H)

2. Continuity and Change Theories (Sampson and Laub, Patterson)

3. Continuity 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 the theory “age graded?” What does “Informal Social Control” mean?

Sampson and Laub

Context•Poverty

•Neighborhood•Others

Parenting• Supervision• Discipline Social Bonds• Family• School•Delinquent Peers

Childhood Adolescence Adulthood

Individual Differences

•Temperament•Conduct disorder diagnosis

Delinquency

Social Bonds•Marriage•Good Job

Length ofIncarceration

Adult Crime

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.)

Sampson and Laub II New Book/Articles based on follow-up data from

Gleuck sample Followed until age 70

Similar to original theory Employment, marriage, military service

More complex-why a “turning point?” Knife off past from the present/future Supervision/monitoring (control) but also opportunities

for social support/growth Change to structure/routine activities Opportunity for identity transformation

How do people desist? Desistence by Default

No conscious decision to “stop offending” Rather, roles, structure, social context changes

Human Agency Vague concept that implies people have some say in the

matter. Not same as “rational choice” nor is it a “trait”

Interaction = land a good job but still must want to keep

Theoretical Importance Lives do not “unfold” in predictable sequences Desistence more difficult to explain than onset or persistence

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

Key Moffitt Questions Why do we need 2 theories? How does she account for stability and

change? Specific explanations of LCP and AL

offending