INTEGRATED THEORIES


Three types of Integrated theories:
1) multi-factor
2) general theories
3) life-course (developmental)  theory


I.  MULTI FACTOR THEORIES:     
    Integrated social control theories with other criminological theories.
 

Social Development:  Joseph Weis, Richard Catalano, J. David Hawkins
Integrates social control, social learning and social structure theories.
PREMISE:   Weak social controls produce crime. A persons place in the social structure influences his bond to society.
To curtail the risk of antisocial behavior, a child must maintain pro-social bonds.
Gender, ethnic background and Socioeconomic status of the child will influence attachments
Proper parental skills and opportunities for family involvement lead to a close attachment to    parents and in turn close attachment to school, which helps child to desist from criminal behavior.

II.  GENERAL THEORIES:


     General Theory of Crime (1980) Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson


PREMISE:  Crime is a function of lack of self control which is influenced by an inadequate socialization and ineffective child-rearing practices.   Behavior is a rational choice and criminal behavior is chosen by those with poor self control. 

A persons level of self control does not change over time, what changes is the opportunities.  
 
INEFFECTIVE CHILD
REARING,                                    < -->              POOR SELF CONTROL-->
INADEQUATE SOCIALIZATION                (influences rational choice)


OPPORTUNITY-->     CRIMINAL ACT




III. LIFE-COURSE (DEVELOPMENTAL)  THEORIES:

PREMISE:  Multiple social, personal and economic factors can influence criminality and that as these factors change over time, so too, does criminal involvement. 
A. Glueck Research: 
Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck (1930's)
Findings:
 Early onset of delinquent activity is a predictor of a criminal career
 Children who are anti-social early in life are the ones most likely to persist in their  criminal  careers later in life.
 The delinquent's Family relations and emotional ties with parents including quality of           discipline is related to persistent offending.
 The child that comes from a large family, who is poor and uneducated is most likely to be  vulnerable.
 Biological and psychological factors played a role including:  Low intelligence, history of    mental disease and strong physical physiques were indicators of persistent offenders.
 
B.  Sampson and Laub's Age-Graded Theory
PREMISE:  Criminal careers are developed in early childhood because weak social bonds with pro social people and institutions and that criminal behavior can be affected by events that occur later  in life as they age,  the most important of which are marriage and a career termed turning points.
Turning Points in Crime:
 Employment
 Marriage:
Social capital:  refers to the building of positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining.

 

 

RISK AND DELIQUENCY FACTORS OF CHILD DELINQUENCY

 

INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS

 Early anti social behavior:

 Emotional Factors

 Poor Cognitive Development

 Hyperactivity

 

FAMILY RISK FACTORS

 Parenting

Three parental factors that are particularly associated with early conduct problems are:
    1. high level of parent-child conflict and punishment
    2. poor monitoring
    3. low level of positive involvement

 Maltreatment

 Family violence

 Divorce

 Parental Psychopathology

 Familial Anti-social behaviors

 Teenage parenthood

 Family Structure

 Large Family Size

 

PEER RISK FACTORS

 Association with Delinquent Peers

 Peer Rejection

 

SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY RISK FACTORS

 

School Factors

 Failure to bond to school

 Poor academic performance

 Low academic aspirations

 

Community Factors

 Living in a poor family

 Neighborhood disadvantage

 Disorganized Neighborhood

 Concentration of delinquent peer groups

 Access to weapons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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