Review article

Etiology of Delinquent Behavior: Review of Patterson's and Moffitt's Theory of Developmental Psychopathology

Ivana Vrselja ; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar, Zagreb

Abstract

This paper provides a brief overview of the differences in etiological explanations and manifestations of delinquents with early and late onset through two theories of developmental psychopathology – Patterson's coercion theory and Moffitt's life-persistent and adolescence-limited delinquency theory. According to these two theories, there are two distinct developmental pathways of delinquent behavior: those with early and late onset. Patterson called the group with early onset early delinquents, and Moffitt life-course-persistent delinquents; whereas group with late onset Patterson called late delinquents, and Moffitt adolescent delinquents. In the case of early starters, behavior problems begin in the early years of development; early behavior problems give way to serious juvenile delinquency in the adolescent years, which evolves into a chronic and lifelong offending. Late starters, on the other hand, do not begin offending until middle to late adolescence and they typically desist from delinquent behavior by their early twenties.
Regarding early-onset delinqunt behavior, Patterson's and Moffitt’s theory emphasize the importance of parental behavior in development of this type of delinquent behavior. However, Moffitt’s theory in development of early-onset delinquent behavior adds a role of biological factors, specifically neuropsychological deficits. According to Moffitt, neuropsychological deficits and disrupted family environment work together in a transactional process to produce life-persistent offending. Regarding late-onset delinquent behavior, a development of this type of delinquent behavior Patterson attributes to association with deviant peers that occurs because of reduced parental monitoring, while Moffitt attributes it to increased desire for autonomy that occurs during adolescence and association with deviant peers.

Keywords

early/life-course-persistent delinquents; late/adolescent delinquents; parental behavior; neuropsychological deficits; deviant peers

Hrčak ID:

56833

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/56833

Publication date:

30.6.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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