What is the Multiple Factor Approach?
The Multiple Factor Approach represents an early and influential attempt to move beyond one-sided, monocausal explanations of crime. It posits that no single factor alone can account for delinquency; rather, crime results from the complex interplay of multiple social, psychological, and biological factors. This perspective rejects simplistic theories of innate criminality or purely social causation in favor of a multi-causal, probabilistic model. The presence of several criminogenic factors reinforces the likelihood of offending in an additive manner.
Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck were among the first to empirically operationalize this approach through large-scale longitudinal studies. Their work in the United States, especially between 1939 and 1948, aimed to identify consistent predictors of juvenile delinquency and to develop methods for anticipating future criminal behavior. They were awarded the Beccaria Medal in 1964 in recognition of their pioneering efforts in criminological research.
Key Points
Multiple Factor Approach
Main Proponents: Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck
First Formulations: 1930s–1950s
Country of Origin: United States
Core Idea: CrimeActs or omissions that violate criminal laws and are punishable by the state. is caused by a combination of multiple interacting social, psychological, and biological factors whose cumulative effect increases the likelihood of delinquency.
Foundation for: Developmental and life-course criminology, predictive risk assessment, modern integrated theories
Theory
Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck conducted an influential longitudinal study involving 1000 male youth aged 11–17: 500 incarcerated in juvenile facilities and 500 non-delinquent boys serving as a control group. Their research focused on identifying which combinations of social and familial factors predicted future criminal behavior.
Key variables included:
- Parental supervision and involvement (e.g., maternal monitoring)
- Parenting style and discipline severity
- Family cohesion and stability
They argued that these factors acted additively: the more risk factors present, the higher the likelihood of delinquency. The Gluecks also considered biological and psychological dimensions, concluding that delinquent boys often exhibited lower emotional stability, higher aggression, impulsivity, and reduced capacity for long-term planning:
[The delinquents are] less adequate than the non-delinquents in capacity to operate on a fairly efficient level and have less emotional stability … more dynamic and energetic, much more aggressive, adventurous, and positively suggestible, as well as stubborn … more inclined to impulsive and non-reflective expression of their energy-drives. (Glueck and Glueck, 1950: 251 f., cited in Newburn, 2017: 138)
The Gluecks’ model integrated environmental, social, psychological, and biological risk factors into a probabilistic framework. Their prognosis tables aimed to identify youth at high risk of continued offending, providing an empirical basis for targeted interventions. This research design is now seen as a prototype for modern developmental and life-course criminology, which similarly emphasizes the accumulation and interaction of risk factors over time.
Implications for Criminal Policy
The Gluecks’ work laid an early foundation for predictive criminology and risk assessment tools. By identifying multiple factors associated with delinquency, it suggested that early interventions could disrupt the pathways to chronic offending. Their findings inspired later models such as Sampson and Laub’s Age-Graded Theory, which expanded on the idea that life events and social bonds could alter criminal trajectories. While the Gluecks themselves emphasized prognosis and individualized intervention, modern interpretations also stress the importance of early family support, education, and social policy in mitigating risk factors.
Critical Appraisal & Relevance
The Multiple Factor Approach is widely recognized for moving criminology beyond simple, deterministic models. Its major strength lies in empirically demonstrating that crime is not caused by a single factor but emerges from the accumulation of diverse risks. It also pioneered the use of large-scale, longitudinal panel studies in criminology, setting a methodological standard that remains influential.
However, critics have pointed out several limitations. The Gluecks’ prediction tables worked best for extreme groups—repeat offenders or highly conforming individuals—while offering limited predictive power for the majority of cases. Some scholars have argued that although the approach acknowledged multiple causes, it lacked a clear theoretical explanation of how these factors interacted dynamically over time. Critics also note that the Gluecks’ reliance on simplified, behaviorist assumptions reflected an individual-pathology model that framed delinquency as a “disease” to be diagnosed and treated, potentially neglecting broader social and structural contexts.
Nonetheless, the Multiple Factor Approach remains a cornerstone in criminological history. It foreshadowed modern risk-factor analysis, developmental criminology, and integrated theories that continue to shape both research and policy today.
Literature
- Glueck, E. & Glueck, S. (1950). Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency. New York: The Commonwealth Fund.
- Newburn, T. (2017). Criminology (Third Edition). London, New York: Routledge.
