Criminal behavior is defined as the violation of laws, rules and regulations against which some overriding authority recommends conviction of some sort. Different human societies may define criminal behavior differently, as every criminal activity breaches the law; but not every breach of the law amounts to a crime as some may be considered infractions. The other area in the study of crime that brings in confusion; is the area of why and how criminal behaviors develop; and whether the means of crime development are the same at different age groups, stages of development and different societies.
According to the “life course theory”, there is a prevailing connection linking individual lives, the socioeconomic and chronological frameworks in which these individuals are nurtured. The theory contends that the whole life model; can be explained as a sequence of socially explainable incidences and roles that the given individual goes through overtime. These events and roles, in turn, sum up to form the individual’s experience, though they don’t have to take place chronologically. This, therefore, leads to the generalized conclusion that the concept of life consists of age-differentiated social experiences, distinct between different stages of life, ages, time and place.
From this analysis, it is evident that people experience lifelong changes in life, which can be attributed to their social-historical and physical location. This is the case because individuals adapt to different social and location conditions like poverty, by engaging in crime as a means of livelihood. Another key principle that leads to this development is the timing of lives; as it is clear that different stages within life have varied characteristic needs and demands. The other core principle that brings in lifelong development is homogeneity or variability. This is because it results in either identifying oneself with others or being different from them. Other principles that influence the development process are the connectedness of life, human agency as opposed to personal control; and the effect of the past on the future. From this account, it is evident that the characteristics of individuals are ever-changing, as opposed to the contentions of the latent trait view ideology.
The factors that result in the development of criminal behavior vary from one stage of development to another as accounted for in the life course theory, as opposed to the master trait contentions. According to the master trait view, criminal behaviors develop from impulsivity or lack of self-control. The reason that disapproves these ideas from being a perfect explanation of criminal behavior is that it does not account for the factors leading to the lack of self-control, impulsivity, or the temporary take-up of criminal behavior.
From the “life course theory”, it is evident that the factors that lead to the development of criminal behaviors vary from one stage, age, time, or circumstances in life to another. An explanation for this can be attributed to the key principles of the theory, which include the socio-historical and physical location. The social-historical factors that could lead to the adoption or development of crime include; the orientation into a culture of poverty or the social pressure to attain a given status or possessions within the society that often leads to the engagement in crime. The geographical conditions that can lead to the development of criminal behavior include, living within a poor slum area in which the values of smartness among other criminal tending traits are nurtured.
It is commonly known that different ages and stages of development have varied social and economic needs. As a result, the inability to achieve the goals of the different stages may lead to the development of criminal behavior. The similarities or variability of individuals and groups associated with poverty and marginalization account for the development of criminal behavior among individuals belonging to vulnerable groups within the society. Another factor that fuels the development of criminal behavior in individuals is the common identification and establishment of social ties, as it amounts to influence that drives other individuals into criminal behaviors. Other factors that can be attributed to the development of criminal behavior are the concept of human agency as opposed to individual control; and the idea of a predetermined future by the past among lower-class cultures.
Reference
Siegel, L. (2007). Criminology: The Core. Wadsworth Publishing Inc.