Chapter 2 FBS

Origins of Criminal Behavior

  • Definition of developmental pathway: common pattern of development shared by individuals, differing from other groups.

Chapter 2 Outline

  • Cumulative risk and developmental cascade models.

  • Developmental risk factors.

  • Early preschool experiences.

  • Protective factors.

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

Risk Factors

  • Risk factors: characteristics or variables that increase the occurrence, frequency, persistence, or duration of offending behavior.

Static vs. Dynamic Risk Factors

  • Static Risk Factors: Historical factors non-changeable by treatment; related to recidivism.

  • Dynamic Risk Factors: Changeable aspects associated with recidivism addressed in treatment.

Risk-focused Prevention

  • Key objectives: identify risk factors for offending and implement prevention methods.

  • Emphasis on reducing risk factors while enhancing protective factors.

Developmental Risk Factors for Delinquent and Criminal Behavior (Table 2-1)

Psychological/Behavioral Risk Factors

  • Academic failure.

  • Animal cruelty.

  • Association with antisocial peers.

  • ADHD and its implications.

  • Cognitive and language deficiencies.

  • Peer rejection and aggression.

  • Lack of attachment/empathy.

  • Poor self-regulation.

Parental and Family Risk Factors

  • Abusive/neglectful parenting.

  • Antisocial family behavior.

  • Effects of divorce.

  • Domestic violence.

  • Parent-child conflict and substance issues.

Social-Environmental Risk Factors

  • Exposure to toxic environments.

  • Ineffective schools.

  • Health coverage absence.

  • Broader societal violence issues.

Neurobiological and Prenatal Risk Factors

  • Brain development abnormalities.

  • Difficult temperament.

  • Substance exposure in utero.

  • Genetic predispositions to disorders.

  • Low birth weight.

Cumulative Risk Factors

  • Exposure to multiple risk factors increases the likelihood of antisocial development.

  • Cumulative risk model: suggests accumulation results in adverse outcomes in the absence of protective factors.

Stages of Developmental Risk Factors

Early Childhood and Adolescence

  • Early signs: defiance, poor self-regulation, and academic deficits.

  • Transition into antisocial behavior patterns during childhood and adolescence.

  • Findings correlate with drug use and behavioral issues in adolescence.

Resilience

  • Definition: coping successfully with adversity, showing competence in tough conditions, fulfilling societal expectations.

  • Three conditions for resilience: significant threats, positive adaptation, and sufficient protective factors.

Roadmap to Resilience

  • Components contributing to resilience:

    • Physical fitness.

    • Interpersonal skills.

    • Emotional skills.

    • Cognitive abilities.

    • Behavioral strategies.

    • Spiritual health.

Family Risk and Protective Factors

  • Impact of poverty, single-parent households, sibling influence, and parental mental health on child development.

Poverty and its Relationship with Criminal Behavior

  • Complex relationship: often intertwined with discrimination, family disruption, and inadequate conditions.

  • Youth in poverty are more likely to experience school failure and risk behaviors.

Statistical Overview of Poverty in California

  • California poverty rates in early 2023: 13.2%, up from 11.7% in 2021, lower than 2019's rate of 16.4%.

  • Poverty line for a family of four in early 2023 is approximately $39,900.

Trends in U.S. Poverty Levels

  • Historical data shows trends and shifts in poverty levels across decades.

Meta-analysis of Criminal Behavior Predictors

  • Low socioeconomic status; emotional distress; educational deficiencies; family factors; temperament issues; antisocial influences.

Parenting Styles and Their Effects

Overview of Parenting Styles

  • Permissive: Low demands, high responsiveness; few rules.

  • Authoritative: Establishes rules but encourages discussion; balanced responsiveness.

  • Authoritarian: High demands, low responsiveness; punitive.

  • Uninvolved: Low demands and responsiveness; neglectful parenting.

Peer Rejection and Antisocial Behavior

  • Peer-rejected children often display aggression and poor social skills.

  • Peer rejection in early years significantly correlates with later antisocial behavior.

Cognitive and Language Deficiencies

  • Deficiencies in language impact antisocial behavior risk, especially in boys.

  • Early language challenges can predict adult criminal behavior.

Intelligence and Delinquency

  • The relationship between IQ scores and academic success is significant; lower IQs correlate with higher delinquency.

Disorders Related to Criminal Behavior

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Symptoms typically arise in childhood; multiple settings must be affected.

  • ADHD can lead to issues in adolescence and adulthood, including legal problems.

Conduct Disorder

  • Characterized by violation of societal rules and others’ rights; includes four main types of behavior.

Related Research Studies

  • Studies into emotional responses to rejection show similar brain activation patterns as physical pain.