DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES:

Life Course, Latent Trait, and

Trajectory

Celvert C. Claudio
DEVELOPMENTAL THEORIES:
During the twentieth century, some criminologists began to integrate sociological,
psychological, and economic elements into more complex developmental views of crime
causation. Hans Eysenck published Crime and Personality in 1964 and proclaimed that antisocial
behavior was linked to psychological conditions that were a product of heredity. His
controversial theory integrated social, biological, and psychological factors, a vision that upset
the sociologists who controlled the field at that time.
• Sheldon (1896 – 1980) and Eleanor Glueck (1898 – 1972) who are
today considered founders of the developmental branch of
criminological theory. Glueck’s research focused on early onset of
delinquency as a harbinger of criminal career. He stated "The
deeper the roots of childhood maladjustments, the smaller the
chance of adult adjustments. They also noted the stability of
offending careers: Children who are antisocial early in life are the
most likely to continue their offending careers into adulthood.