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Date: November 25, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:09 pm
Time: 9:09 pm
Results for criminal behavior, longitudinal studies
1 results foundAuthor: Van de Rakt, M.G.A. Title: Two Generations of Crime: The Intergenerational Transmission of Criminal Convictions over the Life Course Summary: Does criminal behavior of fathers lead to criminal behavior of their children? Do the children of offenders commit more crimes in the years after their fathers were convicted of a criminal act? What happens to the criminality of children when fathers are imprisoned? This study investigates one of the most important plausible causes of criminal behavior: the criminal behavior of the father. Previous research has shown the importance of fathers in predicting the criminal behavior of children. However, studies of the influence of fathers on children’s criminal behavior tend to focus on the parents as a preventative factor, mostly using the perspective of social control theory. This theory expects individuals to refrain from committing crimes so as not to jeopardize their relationship with their parents. Children’s strong attachment with their parents combined with the supervision parents provide explains the lack of delinquent behavior among children. In some cases, however, having a strong bond with one’s father could in fact lead to a higher chance of committing a criminal act. Research shows that the children of criminal fathers are much more likely to commit a crime themselves. Empirically the relationship between a father’s criminal behavior and criminal behavior of his children is well established. The larger part of this research, however, remains descriptive and focuses on cross-sectional relations between the criminal acts of fathers and those of their children. Rowe & Farrington (1997), for instance, reveal a correlation of 0.43 between the criminal convictions of children and their fathers. According to Thornberry et al. (2003), delinquent behavior of parents directly influences the delinquent behavior of children. Other studies show similar results. Nonetheless, the empirical studies done so far face substantial shortcomings. First, most studies use small samples and retrospective designs. Second, the studies do not analyze the influence of paternal criminal behavior after adolescence. Third, most studies focus on sons and neglect the influence of paternal criminality on daughters. Fourth, most studies lack a comparable control group. Finally, although explanations for the transmission of criminal behavior are suggested, the studies neglect to consistently test criminological theories. In this study, we investigate the intergenerational transmission of convictions. We improve on the drawbacks of previous studies in five ways. First, we use a large and prospective sample. Second, we investigate the influence of paternal offending on complete criminal life courses, from childhood until adulthood. This allows us to establish the intergenerational transmission of convictions well into maturity. Third, we investigate daughters as well as sons. Fourth, we analyze both criminal fathers and non-criminal fathers, as well as criminal children and non-criminal children. Finally, we explicitly deduce and test hypotheses from criminological theories. We first analyze the extent of the intergenerational transmission of criminal behavior by focusing on the relationship between the criminal convictions of fathers and the criminal convictions of their sons and daughters. Using a longitudinal, life-course perspective, we investigate development of the complete criminal careers of both parents and children. In doing so, we adopt a broad interpretation of intergenerational transmission, focusing on various aspects of paternal criminality. Specifically, we explore four aspects of intergenerational transmission: (1) the influence of the timing of criminal convictions of fathers, (2) the influence of parental divorce, (3) the influence of paternal imprisonment and (4) the influence of criminal convictions of mothers and siblings. Our data contains information on all recorded offences committed from age 12 onwards. We use only those cases that were followed by a conviction. Crime debates dominate public and political agendas, and societies are demanding better understanding of the causes and correlates of crime. Yet in order to make crime prevention programs more effective, knowledge is needed about the influences of paternal criminal behavior. The study presented in this thesis contributes to knowledge about the influences of the nuclear family on the development of criminal behavior. Our focus on the development of criminal careers over time provides insights into the causal order and the timing of influences of paternal criminal behavior. These insights could be helpful for policymakers in designing crime prevention programs. Details: Nijmegen, The Netherlands: Radboud University, 2011. 207p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands: Accessed July 14, 2011 at: http://repository.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/2066/83192/1/dissertatie_marieke_14nov%20(2).pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://repository.ubn.ru.nl/bitstream/2066/83192/1/dissertatie_marieke_14nov%20(2).pdf Shelf Number: 122059 Keywords: Criminal Behavior, Longitudinal StudiesCriminal CareersFamiliesLife Course |