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Developmental Theory Paper

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Developmental theories state that an individual's propensity to crime is an ebb and flow over the course of their lives (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). These theories, often referred to as “life theories” are based on a person’s individual development (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Developmental theories also argue that there are other factors which influence an individual’s likelihood to commit crimes (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). These theories also assert that although there may be a significant or influential factor in an individual’s life at one point in time, that same factor may not have any significance or importance at a different stage of their life (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Developmental theories are important because they examine how a person’s relationship …show more content…

The first stage, onset, is when an individual’s initially enters crime (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). This stage is often seen in children who have behavior issues (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Continuity is the second life phase that social scientists examine when evaluating an individual’s criminal development. This stage is when the individual has a relatively stable pattern of behavior. The third stage of life evaluated in developmental theories is referred to as change or turning points (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). This stage is identified when a person’s behavior begins to move in a different direction than it was before (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Finally, desistance is a stage when a series of life changing events occur and the person stops offending altogether (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Developmental theories are important because they allow social scientists to break down the lives of individuals and examine different stages. By doing this, they are able to develop a clearer picture of when and why people may be prone to commit crimes and can use this information to possibly help predict or change an individual who is heading toward a life of

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