Moffit "pathways in the life course to crime"

Question 1

What does Moffit Argue

Answer 1

The peak of crime in the teen years seen in the age crime curve conceals 2 groups that take different development pathways into crime

Question 2

What are the 2-taxonomy groups

Answer 2

• Life Course Persistent Offenders (LCPs)
• Adolescence- limited offenders (ALs)

Question 3

What is the age crime curve

Answer 3

in your teen years: crime increases in your 20’s then decreases as they get older

Question 4

When does LCP offenders start?

Answer 4

Life-course persistent offenders start early & continue beyond adolescence
- continuity is the hallmark (main character) of this group
-continuity: the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time.

Question 5

What makes LCPs

Answer 5

The developmental process begins with neurophysiological deficits
1. Normal Brain Development is Disrupted
- can be by drugs, poor nutrition, exposed to toxins, etc
- leads to higher activity levels, higher irritability, lower self control, lower cognitive ability, etc.
2. Verbal & Executive function are particularly important
- have been found to be associated with antisocial behavior
*verbal: affect listening, reading, problem solving
*executive: in intention

Question 6

Neuropsychological

Answer 6

Refers to anatomical structures & psychological process within the nervous system

Question 7

What are the individual traits/ neuropsychological deficits linked to

Answer 7

Neuropsychological deficits are linked to misconduct & social failure throughout life
- lock individuals into crime by the way they interact with social environment to create disadvantage & ensnare individuals in an antisocial life -> evoke harsh/ radix parenting because they are more difficult

Question 8

Where are most children with neuropsychological deficits born into

Answer 8

not wealthy families

Question 9

Overall concept of Moffit

Answer 9

individual deficits or traits produce stability of offending in LCPs in 2 interrelated ways:
1. by the traits constant contemporary effect/ consequences
2. By the way the traits foster cumulative continuity

Question 10

What are the 2 sources of continuity that narrow the options for change?

Answer 10

1. failing to learn conventional prosocial behavior
2. Becoming ensnared in a criminal lifestyle by crime consequences -> make irrevocable decisions to reduce opportunities
   ex: teenager pregnancy or being incarcerated

Question 11

Adolescence- limited Offenders

Answer 11

start & finish their criminality during the teen years (largest group)
- change/ discontinuity is the hallmark of this group
- motivation for criminality is translated into social mimicry (LCPs become popular b/c they are role models to ALs

Question 12

What does it mean for it to have lack of consistency across situations

Answer 12

An example, delinquents at school but not at home or delinquents with peers but not strangers

Question 13

Which adolescence don’t engage in crime

Answer 13

1. experienced the maturity gap
2. had access to antisocial role models