desist
To spontaneously stop committing crime.
developmental theories
A branch of criminology that examines change in a criminal career over the life course. Developmental factors include biological, social, and psychological change. Among the topics of developmental criminology are desistance, resistance, escalation, and s
life course theories
Theoretical views studying changes in criminal offending patterns over a person's entire life. Are there conditions or events that occur later in life that influence the way people behave, or is behavior predetermined by social or personal conditions at b
latent trait theories
Theoretical views that criminal behavior is controlled by a master trait, present at birth or soon after, that remains stable and unchanging throughout a persons's lifetime.
problem behavior syndrome (PBS)
A cluster of antisocial behaviors that may include family dysfunction, substance abuse, smoking, precocious sexuality and early pregnancy, educational underachievement, suicide attempts, sensation seeking, and unemployment, as well as crime.
authority conflict pathway
The path to a criminal career that begins with early stubborn behavior and defiance of parents.
covert pathway
A path to a criminal career that begins with minor underhanded behavior and progresses to fire starting and theft.
overt pathway
Pathway to a criminal career that begins with minor aggression, leads to physical fighting, and eventually escalates to violent crime.
adolescent-limited offenders
Offender who follows the most common criminal trajectory, in which antisocial behavior peaks in adolescence and then diminishes.
life course persisters
One of the small group of offenders whose criminal career continues well into adulthood.
integrated theories
Models of crime causation that weave social and individual variables into a complex explanatory chain.
turning points
According to Laub and Sampson, the life events that alter the development of a criminal career.
social capital
Positive relations with individuals and institutions that are the life sustaining.
latent trait
A stable feature, characteristic, property, or condition, present at birth or soon after, that makes some people crime prone over the life course.
human nature theory
A belief that personal traits, such as genetic makeup, intelligence, and body build, may outweigh the importance of social variables as predictors of criminal activity.
General Theory of Crime (GTC)
According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, a developmental theory that modifies social control theory by integrating concepts from biosocial, psychological, routine activities, and rational choice theories.
self-control theory
According to Gottfredson and Hirschi, the view that the cause of delinquent behavior is an impulsive personality. Kids who are impulsive may find that their bond to society is weak.