Criminology- Moffitt's Life Course Persistent and Elliott's Integrated Strain- Control Paradigm - Essay Example

Teenagers mostly develop antisocial behavior based on the hormonal changes that their bodies are undergoing. However, a different class of antisocial people exists whose antisocial behavior can be rather persistent and stable. Most of the individuals with antisocial behavior tend to use it as an item of self-defense against their fears, for example, their inability to control their environment (Net Industries, 2015). A lot of research studies has been conducted to investigate the probable causes of this rare maladjustment in the society.

Researchers tenet this condition to stress, child abuse, hyperactivity disorder and family problems including divorce or the death of a parent. The environment where an individual is raised up in also contributes to the type of behavior they will have. The salient feature of people having antisocial behavior is that they will appear to have no positive feelings for others but only remorse. They also tend to lack expression of their feelings except for anger and hostility and even these are seen through their violent and aggressive acts (Net Industries, 2015).

Moffitts Adolescent-Limited or Life-Course Persistent theory suggests that there are two types of distinct developmental pathways to delinquency. In his theory, he argues that antisocial behavior may be adolescent limited or life-course persistent. Based on the theory of life-course persistent antisocial behavior, there is a cumulative interaction between the criminogenic environment and neuropsychological problems. This theory asserts that this group exhibits antisocial behavior beyond their adolescent stage.

On the other hand, the adolescence-limited antisocial behavior is a contemporary antisocial behavior that prompts adolescents to engage in antisocial behavior but in ways that can be adjusted and are normal. For example, adolescents may violate school rules or engage in antisocial