Developmental or life-course theories emphasize individual development using different disciplines and different levels of analysis to understand criminality throughout an offender’s life (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Furthermore, developmental theories attempt to isolate and explain factors that influence peaks of criminal activity, recidivism, and antisocial behavior at a specific point in an individual’s life (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). For instance, factors that affect criminality during childhood development, adolescent development, and adulthood may be relevant only during that particular developmental stage and irrelevant during others. Since we now understand the general premise behind developmental or life-course theories let us further examine …show more content…
According to developmental theorists, the first stage of criminal development is onset, which refers to an individual first time they participate in crime or delinquency (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Additionally, developmental theorists contend childhood behaviors such as bullying, lying, and cheating are precursors to serious criminal activity (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Next, continuity refers to the stability of an individual’s life path whether it is criminal or not (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Developmental theorists assert particular personality and biological traits of individuals contribute to a continuous, high rate of recidivism throughout their lives (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). The third stage of development is classified by change or turning points in which an individual’s pathway goes in a different direction (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Consequently, during this stage the age-crime curve was developed to explain peaks in adolescent criminality and crime reduction in the mid-twenties (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Lastly, the developmental theorists define desistance as the process through which an offender stops offending (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Furthermore, the implementation of positive social controls, structured routine activities, and purposeful human agency are critical factors of desistance during adulthood (Bohm & Vogel,