CCJ 250 Lecture 28: CCJ 250 – Lecture 28
29 Apr 2018
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4.26.18
CCJ 250 – Lecture 28
The Robins Paradox
• “antisocial behavior in children is one of the best predictors of antisocial behavior in
adults, yet most antisocial children do not grow up to be antisocial adults”
Sampson and Laub (2003) found evidence that:
A. Crime declines with age for all types of offending
B. Once a criminal, always a criminal
C. Crime peaks in middle adulthood
D. Childhood risk factors predict life-course-persistent offending
Sampson and Laub (2005)
• Life-course desistance
• Turning points
Marriage as a Turning Point
• Marriage was associated with a 35% reduction in the probability of crime
Agency and Choice
• “the purposeful execution of choice and individual will”
• “Many men engaged I ‘transformative action’ in the desistance process”
• “Some men simply insist on a criminal lifestyle”
Situated Choice Exercise
• How are your choices enabled by your present situation?
o Education (helps with obtaining a career/get more opportunities)
o A degree helps you make you more money
o Allows you to choose where and how you learn
o A lot of opportunities to make “bad” decisions
▪ Party, drink, do drugs
• How are your choices constrained by your preset situation?
o Poor af
o Don’t have a car at school but have one at home
o Constrains your free time
o Can’t fail or you’ll lose your scholarships
Choice and Structures of Support
• How is agency acknowledged in this program?
o Some people can be saved, others can’t be saved
• How is structure acknowledged in this program?
o Gives them tools/ business plans to succeed
▪ Same structure they get in college
o Hold them accountable
o Based on an individual’s choice to change
▪ Given opportunities to change
Prediction?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The robins paradox: antisocial behavior in children is one of the best predictors of antisocial behavior in adults, yet most antisocial children do not grow up to be antisocial adults . Sampson and laub (2003) found evidence that: crime declines with age for all types of offending, once a criminal, always a criminal, crime peaks in middle adulthood, childhood risk factors predict life-course-persistent offending. Sampson and laub (2005: life-course desistance, turning points. Marriage as a turning point: marriage was associated with a 35% reduction in the probability of crime. Agency and choice: the purposeful execution of choice and individual will , many men engaged i transformative action" in the desistance process , some men simply insist on a criminal lifestyle . Prediction: unfolding of predetermined traits, vs, constant interaction between individuals and environment. Situated choice: choice alone without structures of support, or the offering of support alone absent a decision to desist, however inchoate, seems destined to fail.
