Naslov
Developmental Criminological Theories

Autori
Ivičić, Ines

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Ocjenski radovi, magistarski rad

Fakultet
Institute of Criminology, Department of Law

Mjesto
Cambridge

Datum
07.06

Godina
2002

Stranica
92

Mentor
Farrington, David

Ključne riječi
developmental theories; antisocial behaviour; delinquency; offending; heterogeneity; state-dependence hypothesis; stability; pathways; life events; life-course transitions

Sažetak
This thesis attempts to organise the key developmental issues and to evaluate the mechanisms adopted by criminological theories in describing (what and when) and explaining (why) of continuity and change in the development of antisocial behaviour and offending. Moreover, certain ideas about the features that should be included in a theory that will comprehensively address both continuity and change over the life-course are discussed. The first chapter focus on major developmental theories, giving a short overview of the theories&#8217 ; ; content and focusing mainly on processes and mechanisms employed in the description and explanation of continuity and change in an individual&#8217 ; ; s developmental course of offending. In the subsequent chapter, the mechanisms and assumptions surrounding the notion of continuity in antisocial behaviour are elaborated and considered in the way they are conceptualised in different theories. The key developmental issues discussed in this chapter are: Are changing manifestations of antisocial behaviour throughout the life-course essentially symptoms of the same underlying syndrome or does one type of behaviour tends to act as a stepping stone to and facilitate another type? Does antisocial behaviour develop and progress in a sequenced, orderly and predictable manner or is there variant, multidimensional and/or multiple pathways of criminal development? The argument is put forward in the following chapter that an understanding of the development of antisocial behaviour and offending cannot be completely achieved if the theory together with the continuity do not properly address the existence of qualitative and quantitative change. Consequently, the problems related to the possible and appropriate ways of addressing the issue of change are discussed. Regarding continuity, as well as, change is documented in the seriousness, participation, frequency and versatility of their antisocial behaviour and offending during the life-span, another key issue addressed in the thesis is: Is delinquency/criminality a homogeneous phenomenon or can discrete groups of delinquents and offenders be distinguished? One way of addressing the issue of discontinuity is by looking at the impact of life events and/or transitions during the criminal career. Consequently, the possibility of &#8220 ; ; relative change&#8221 ; ; , will be questioned through analysing the impact of normative age-graded events and non-normative events during the life-course of antisocial behaviour and offending. Thus, another key issue is: Can variability and exogenous influences on the course of development over time be predicted and/or explained by focusing solely on enduring individual differences or life events add to the accuracy of prediction and/or explanation of delinquent behaviour and offending during the life-course? In the final chapter issues surrounding continuity versus change hypotheses are elaborated. The question of the contributions and pitfalls of the life-course theories in addressing the above hypotheses are considered. Accordingly, the implications for further directions in criminological theory development are addressed as well as key developmental issues that should be in incorporated in a comprehensive developmental criminological theory.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA