Module #11
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, you
should be able to:
1. express
the main points of life course theory; and
2. evaluate
the relevance of this theory in today’s society.
Life Course theory otherwise
known as Developmental theory suggests
that criminal behavior is a dynamic
process, influenced by individual characteristics as well as social
experiences, and that the factors that cause anti-social behaviors change
dramatically over a person’s life span. It is the product of the collaborative
efforts of Sheldon Glueck, a
Polish-American Criminologist together with his wife Eleanor Touroff-Glueck, an American social worker and
criminologists. According to life- course view, even as toddlers, people begin
relationships and behaviors that will determine their entire life course. As
children they must learn to conform to social rules and function effectively in
society. Later, they are expected to begin thinking about their careers, leave
their parental homes, find permanent relationships, and eventually marry and
begin their own families. These transitions
are expected to be in place in an orderly manner. Some transitions can
occur too early like when adolescents engage in advance or precocious sex. In
some way, transitions may occur too late as when a student fails to graduate
because of bad grades or too many incomplete
grades.
The negative life transitions can
become increasing: as kids acquire more personal deficits, the chances of
acquiring additional deficits increases. For example, a boy who experiences
significant amounts of anger in early adolescence is the one more likely to
become involved in antisocial behavior as a teen and mature into a depressed
adult who abuses alcohol. It mainly emphasizes that disruption in life’s major transitions can be destructive and
ultimately can promote criminality.
On the other hand, life course theory also recognizes that as people
mature, the factors that influence their behavior change. For example, some
antisocial children who are in trouble throughout their adolescence may manage
to find stable work and maintain intact marriages as adults (Siegel et al,)
Q1. Can life course theory predict our future?
Answer: No. This theory only explains
that transitions in life are expected to be in place in an orderly manner. Some
transitions can occur too early like when adolescents engage in advance or
precocious sex. In some way, transitions may occur too late as when a student
fails to graduate because of bad grades or too many incomplete grades.
Q2. What will happen to children whose life has
been disrupted during their early transition of life?
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