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2.2 Developmental Perspectives of Criminals

Introduction

The developmental perspective explains criminal behaviour as a process that develops over time rather than as a single event. It suggests that criminal behaviour is influenced by experiences occurring throughout an individual’s life, beginning in childhood and continuing into adulthood. According to this perspective, biological, psychological, family, social, and environmental factors interact at different stages of development to influence whether an individual engages in criminal behaviour.

The developmental perspective aims to identify the factors that increase the risk of offending as well as the protective factors that help prevent criminal behaviour. It also explains why some individuals stop offending as they mature, while others continue to commit crimes throughout their lives.

Developmental Perspective

The developmental perspective is based on the idea that criminal behaviour follows different developmental pathways. Individuals are exposed to different life experiences, family environments, peer influences, educational opportunities, and social circumstances, all of which contribute to their behavioural development.

Researchers have found that antisocial behaviour often begins with minor behavioural problems during childhood. If these problems are not identified and managed early, they may gradually develop into more serious delinquent and criminal behaviour during adolescence and adulthood.

This perspective also emphasizes that not every child who displays problem behaviour becomes a criminal. Protective factors such as supportive parents, positive school experiences, healthy peer relationships, and effective intervention programmes can reduce the likelihood of persistent offending.

Moffitt’s Developmental Theory

One of the most influential developmental theories of criminal behaviour was proposed by Terrie E. Moffitt (1993). According to Moffitt, offenders do not all follow the same developmental pattern. Instead, she proposed two primary developmental pathways of antisocial behaviour.

These are:

1. Life-Course Persistent Offenders (LCP)
2. Adolescence-Limited Offenders (AL)

1. Life-Course Persistent Offenders (LCP)

Life-Course Persistent offenders are individuals whose antisocial behaviour begins in early childhood and continues into adolescence and adulthood. Their criminal behaviour tends to be stable, frequent, and persistent throughout life.

According to Moffitt, this pattern develops because of an interaction between neuropsychological deficits (such as problems in attention, learning, or self-control) and adverse environmental conditions, including poor parenting, family conflict, abuse, neglect, and poverty.

These individuals often display behavioural problems at a very young age. As they grow older, their behaviour may become increasingly serious, leading to chronic offending, violence, substance abuse, and repeated contact with the criminal justice system.

Characteristics of Life-Course Persistent Offenders

• Behaviour begins during childhood.
• Antisocial behaviour continues throughout life.
• Greater involvement in serious and violent crimes.
• Presence of neuropsychological and developmental problems.
• Often associated with dysfunctional family environments and poor social adjustment.

2. Adolescence-Limited Offenders (AL)

Adolescence-Limited offenders begin displaying antisocial behaviour during adolescence, but unlike Life-Course Persistent offenders, their offending usually decreases as they enter adulthood.

According to Moffitt, these individuals often engage in delinquent behaviour because of the maturity gap—the difference between biological maturity and the limited social roles and responsibilities available to adolescents. They may imitate delinquent peers to gain independence, social status, or acceptance.

Since their behaviour is largely influenced by social and situational factors rather than long-term developmental problems, most adolescence-limited offenders gradually stop offending as they assume adult responsibilities such as employment, higher education, marriage, and family life.

Characteristics of Adolescence-Limited Offenders

• Delinquent behaviour begins during adolescence.
• Behaviour is usually temporary.
• Strong influence of peer pressure.
• Criminal behaviour decreases during adulthood.
• Generally involved in less serious offences than Life-Course Persistent offenders.

Comparison Between Life-Course Persistent and Adolescence-Limited Offenders

Summary

The developmental perspective views criminal behaviour as the result of developmental processes that occur across the lifespan. Moffitt’s Developmental Theory explains that offenders generally follow either a Life-Course Persistent pathway, in which antisocial behaviour begins in childhood and continues throughout life, or an Adolescence-Limited pathway, in which delinquent behaviour is temporary and largely influenced by adolescent social experiences. This theory highlights the importance of early identification and intervention in preventing persistent criminal behaviour.