Wikstrom and Tafel 2003 Upbringing - peterborough youth study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To study a range of factors and to identify which are the most significant in predicting future criminality

Question 2

method

Answer 2

cross sectional study - interviews and data collection.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

nearly 2000 14&15yr olds (yr10) students

response rate was 92%

studied violence, vandalism, shoplifting, burglary and theft

Question 4

results

Answer 4

people who commit many crimes commit a wide range of crimes.

45% of males and 31% of females had committed a crime

offenders were most likely to be involved in alcohol and drug abuse

9.8% of males and 3.8% of females had committed a serious crime of theft

Question 5

Conclusions

Answer 5

Individuals with high protective factors are less likely to offend than those with low protective factors.

individuals with high risk factors are more likely to commit a crime.

the key risk factors were: weak family and social bonds, weak school bonds, poor parental monitoring, truancy, social class, weak morality, poor self control.

3 groups of adolescent offenders:

• propensity - induced
• lifestyle - dependent
• situationally - limited