Review of Moffitt's Theory on Criminal Behavior

Overview of Moffitt's Theory

• Conducted by Terry Moffitt in New Zealand, focusing on behavioral patterns across different demographics.
• Integrates psychological, social, environmental, and biological factors into research about criminal behavior.
• The research has strong empirical support despite some studies not confirming it.

Offender Classifications

• Life Course Persistent Offenders (LCPs):

  • Begin offending early in life, prior to puberty, and continue into adulthood.
  • Characterized by serious antisocial behaviors throughout their lives.
  • Developmental milestones:
  • Behaviors as a child include biting and hitting as early as age 4, shoplifting, and truancy by age 10.
  • Engage in increasing seriousness of behaviors over time.

• Adolescent Limited Offenders (ALs):

  • Engage in antisocial behaviors primarily during adolescence, then age out of crime.
  • Typically have had better socialization and fewer risk factors than LCPs.

• Abstainers:

  • A subgroup of individuals who do not participate in any criminal behavior throughout the study.

Study Design

• Longitudinal Study:
  • Follows individuals over time to observe changes in behavior and offending patterns.
  • Contrasts with cross-sectional studies that analyze data at a single point in time.

Characteristics of LCPs

• Biological Risk Factors:

  • Low IQ, hyperactivity, slow heart rate, low impulse control.
  • These factors correlate with increased likelihood of criminal behavior but do not determine it.

• Environmental Risk Factors:

  • Influences include being raised by a teenage single mother, low socioeconomic status, neglect or abuse, and inconsistent discipline.

• Additional Insights:

  • By age 12, a small group (7%) of LCPs accounted for 50% of crimes committed in the study.
  • Persistent antisocial behavior limits opportunities for legitimate success (social capital).

Importance of Early Intervention

• Those engaging in antisocial behavior from a young age risk losing social relations necessary for rehabilitation.
• The cumulative effect of criminal behavior can lead to a cycle of incarceration and hinder future opportunities.

Characteristics of ALs

• Developmental History:

  • ALs generally come from supportive family backgrounds with competent parenting.
  • A lot of them may experience what Moffitt terms a "maturity gap"—the difference between physical maturity and the ability to enter the workforce.

• Maturity Gap:

  • Kids maturing physically (puberty) now face delayed entry into the job market, contributing to impulsive behavior and sometimes resulting in crime.

• Peer Influence:

  • Peer groups—especially antisocial peers—play a significant role in the onset of offending among ALs.
  • LCPs may influence ALs by modeling delinquent behavior, leading to a reinforcement of criminal actions during adolescence.

• ALs typically engage in less severe crimes compared to LCPs, focusing more on property crimes or minor offenses.

Conclusion

• The classification of offenders as LCPs or ALs highlights different developmental trajectories concerning criminal behavior.
• Understanding the biological, environmental, and social factors can aid in developing effective prevention and intervention strategies for both groups of offenders.