CRIM 101 Lecture 10 Notes

Crim 101- Lecture 10, Dec. 3 2018

Criminological Theory and Age
- Most criminological theories are static
- But age is one of the “facts” of crime
o Not explained adequately by most theories

Antisocial Behaviour is Stable
- More severe behaviour has more stability

Explaining Stability and Change in Antisocial Behaviour |
- Individuals posses a trait that is stable and criminogenic
- Explains stability, but change (desistance)?
o If trait is stable, why do people desist from crime?

Explaining Stability and Change in Antisocial Behaviour ||
- Cumulative Continuity
o Initial antisocial behaviour (regardless of cause) has
CONSEQUENCES

Is the Age/Crime Curve Misleading?
- Data is AGGREGATE
- Data are CROSS-SECTIONAL
- Data is OFFICIAL

The Age-Crime Debate
- People with high propensity (low self-control) ALWAYS commit
crime
- Everyone eventually stops