Problem: Advocates of life course theories suggest that changes in criminality over the life course result from experience changes and life events (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021). From a criminological standpoint, Robert Sampson and John Laub's age-graded theory is considered one of the most prominent life course theories. Sampson and Laub hypothesize that an individual's criminal career is affected by events that occur over the person's life span.
In addition, in their age-graded theory assumption, they state that the causal association between early delinquent offending and later adult criminality involves the relationships encountered at differing times in human development. Social bonds to family and employment in adulthood best explain the changes in criminal behavior over the lifespan.
On the other hand, research on juveniles' brains points to the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex as the reason for the lack of maturity, impulsivity, vulnerability to coercion, and inability to comprehend the long-term consequences of criminality (Kolb et al., 2017; Kobl & Gibb, 2011). The brain is not fully developed until approximately age 25, so criminality frequently lessens. In other words, criminal actions change as the brain develops.
Do you think Sampson and Laub's age-graded theory is supported by brain development research, or do you believe these are opposing views? SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER!!!!!
References
Kolb, B., & Gibb, R. (2011). Brain plasticity and behavior in the developing brain. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(4), 265-276.
Kolb, B., Harker, A., & Gibb, R. (2017). Principles of plasticity in the developing brain. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59(12), 1218-1223.
Schram, P.J., & Tibbetts, S. G. (2021). Introduction to criminology. Why do they do it? (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.