The empirical status of Moffitt's theory can generally be regarded as favorable, withsome suggestions in the literature for further specification and refinement of the theory.Much of the empirical research focuses on the life-course-persisters. The existence of agroup of LCP-like offenders is empirically supported by a host of studies. Daniel Naginand Kenneth Land, for example, identified four patterns of offending in a sample of 403British males studied from ages 8 to 32. These four groups included non-offenders, low-level chronics, adolescence-limiteds, and high-level chronics.
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Moffi tt's developmental taxonomy has had a strong infl uence on the study of crime causation. Indeed, Moffi tt's propositions regarding the aetiology of adolescence-limited offenders and life ...
Jun 01, 2016 · Several follow-up studies of this longitudinal research took place later on (see e.g. Moffitt and Caspi, 2001; Piquero & Moffitt, 2005) and other studies were pointed out by the author which support, at least partially, her theoretical assumptions on the prediction of future offending (Moffitt, 1997, see e.g. Moffitt, Caspi, Rutter & Silva, 2001).
In her taxonomy Moffitt describes two developmental pathways into delinquent behaviour: an episodic, "adolescence-limited" occurrence of delinquent behavior and a pathway characterised by an early onset and a stable course of delinquent behavior ("life …
Adolescence-Limited and Life-Course-Persistent Antisocial Behavior: A Developmental Taxonomy Terrie E. Moffitt A dual taxonomy is presented to reconcile 2 incongruous facts about antisocial behavior: (a) It shows impressive continuity over age, but (b) its prevalence changes dramatically over age, increasing
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Template:Personality disorders sidebar Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is recognized by the DSM-IV. It is a disorder characterized by a severe disregard for the rights of others. In most of the studies described below, individuals with who exhibit antisocial behavior, but have not been diagnosed with ASPD, are used as subjects.
The following biological risk factors have been linked to, but do not cause, persistent antisocial behavior throughout the life course.
Although the biological risk factor do not apply to this group, one point worth noting is that the myelination of the frontal cortex continues into our 20's. This continuing development may help to explain why antisocial behavior ceases after adolescence and why such a spike in crime exists there in the first place.
This type of theory leads to several different neuroethical issues.
Moffitt's taxonomy of offending has important implications for prevention andintervention policy, in terms of both identifying the best subjects for intervention and forthe appropriate causal variables to target. Although adolescence-limited offending isnear ubiquitous, it is a less troubling form of delinquency. According to Moffitt's theory,it essentially resolves itself within a relatively short period of time. While the ALs are thelarger of the offending groups, their delinquent and criminal behavior is not the mostharmful. The offending of the LCPs, on the other hand, is more likely to be serious andby definition continues over a much longer period of time. The LCPs, then, representthe most efficacious target for prevention and intervention.
John Laub and Robert Sampson have described Moffitt's dual taxonomy as one of themost influential developmental accounts of persistence and desistance in offending. They are also among her most vocal critics. Their concerns with Moffitt's taxonomytake two general forms. Broadly speaking, Sampson and Laub question the assumptionthat offender typologies are necessary for understanding continuity and change.Specifically, they are concerned that Moffitt overstates the persistence of the LCP, andthat prospective identification of offending trajectories is futile, as criminologists areunable do so with any degree of accuracy given the actuarial strategies currently at theirdisposal.
The empirical status of Moffitt's theory can generally be regarded as favorable, withsome suggestions in the literature for further specification and refinement of the theory.Much of the empirical research focuses on the life-course-persisters. The existence of agroup of LCP-like offenders is empirically supported by a host of studies. Daniel Naginand Kenneth Land, for example, identified four patterns of offending in a sample of 403British males studied from ages 8 to 32. These four groups included non-offenders, low-level chronics, adolescence-limiteds, and high-level chronics.
Moffitt's theory: same traits that got them in trouble in childhood continue to manifest themselves in adulthood. -continuing reciprocal interaction between personal traits and environmental reactions to them. Terri Moffitt's developmental taxonomy conclusion. -influence of neurological factors, learning deficits, ...
Thornberry and Krohn. expanded theory to deal with early childhood and to early adulthood. *early childhood-recognized the importance of temperament and other trait-like behavior. -importance of degree of deficits in predicting continuity. *later adolescence/early adulthood recognized. -importance of transitions.