Developmental & Life-Course Theories Notes

Overview of Developmental & Life-Course Theories

• Focus on theories that examine the development of criminal behavior over an individual's life.

Key Figures and Works

• Sheldon & Eleanor Glueck

  • Harvard University, 1920s–1960s
  • Published Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency in 1950
  • Analyzed life histories of 500 boys sent to reform school in the 1930s
  • Collected data at ages 14, 25, and 32, documenting various life experiences, including discrimination and rivalries.

• Rob Sampson & John Laub

  • Rediscovered Glueck's data during their research at Harvard
  • Developed the Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control
  • Suggested that desistance from crime is a process rather than an event.

Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control

• This theory emphasizes the influence of social bonds on behavior and conformity, integrating ideas from social control theory.
• Four Components:
  1. Increased Social Bonds
  • Stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers lead to more socially controlled behavior.
  1. Social Control Mechanism
  • Higher social bonds correlate with reduced deviance and delinquency.
  1. Weak/Broken Social Bonds
  • Can lead to increased likelihood of deviance/delinquency.
  1. Life-Course Changes
  • Informal social control explains shifts in criminal behavior over time.

Turning Points in Life-Course

• Turning points are critical life changes that can influence an individual's social control and opportunities, including:
  • Marriage
  • Meaningful Employment
  • Military Service
• Impact of Turning Points:
  • Lead to gradual or abrupt changes in behavior patterns.
  • Relationship dynamics, family disruptions, and previous delinquency experiences affect future transitions to adulthood.
  • Cumulative Disadvantage:
  • Previous delinquency can create barriers to successfully transitioning into adulthood, impacting future social bonds such as marriage and career.

Role of Family in Social Control

• Emphasizes the family's role in exercising social control through:
  • Relational Control (via attachment)
  • Instrumental Control (via monitoring and supervision)
• Suggests less emphasis on peer influence, although some researchers argue that peer relationships significantly affect behavior.
• Crucial Factors Identified in the Theory:
  • Low socioeconomic status of families
  • Large family sizes and disruptions
  • Harsh or erratic parental discipline
  • Poor parental supervision and attachment issues contribute to delinquency.

Social Bonds Across Life Stages

• Childhood (0-10):
  • Formation of early attachment and social bonds.
• Adolescence (10-18):
  • Increased peer interaction and potential for delinquent influences.
• Transition to Young Adulthood (17-25):
  • Significant changes stemming from education and early employment.
• Young Adulthood (25-32):
  • Establishing long-term relationships and stable employment is crucial for reducing deviance.
• Transition to Middle Adulthood (32-45):
  • Life choices during this period can solidify pathways either towards or away from crime.

Further Reading

• For Tuesday (April 22nd), read Chapter 15 – Integrating Criminological Theory for next week.