Sociology & Criminology for a Changing World
Theories in this category—often referred to as developmental theories—share the assumption that crime is best understood as a processual phenomenon, not as isolated acts. They introduce the variable of time as a crucial dimension for understanding why people become involved in crime, why they persist, and why they desist. Developmental perspectives emphasize that criminal behavior
Turning Point Theory, also known as the Age-Graded Life-Course Theory of Crime, was developed by Robert J. Sampson and John H. Laub. This influential approach in developmental criminology argues that criminal behaviour is not static over the life course. Instead, it can change in response to key life events or turning points that strengthen or
Two-Path Theory, developed by Terrie E. Moffitt, distinguishes between two distinct developmental trajectories of antisocial behavior: adolescence-limited offending and life-course persistent offending. This theory is based on longitudinal research, notably the Dunedin Study in New Zealand, which tracked the behavior of 1,000 individuals over time to uncover different patterns of offending across the life course.