Developmental trajectories and intentional actions

Journal/Book: J Quant Criminol. 2000; 16: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013, USA. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publ. 237-253.

Abstract: The article turns a critical eye on problems arising from use of large samples and complicated statistics to handle multilevel designs. I argue that although these have a legitimate role to play in discovering causal relations, valuable information can be lost or distorted in the process of their use. Exploratory classification and tree diagrams show how transitional analyses can unpack effects of community, family, prior misbehavior, juvenile delinquency, and incarceration on adult criminal behavior. The analyses showed that in the worst neighborhoods, disruptive behavior had little discriminating power with regard to juvenile delinquency or adult crime. They showed also that good family interactions serve as protection against crime in all types of neighborhoods. Construct Theory, I suggest, is a way to understand the influences that seem to produce criminal behavior.

Note: Article McCord J, 623 Broadacres Rd, Narberth,PA 19072 USA

Keyword(s): longitudinal analysis; community effects; adult crime; juvenile delinquency; family effects; early disruptive behavior; effects of juvenile incarceration; Construct Theory; JUVENILE-DELINQUENCY; CHILDHOOD; BEHAVIOR; PERSPECTIVE; PREDICTORS; INFORMANT; CHILDREN; CRIME; MEN

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