Terrie E. Moffitt

Definition

Terrie E. Moffitt is a prominent clinical psychologist known for her pioneering work on the development of antisocial behavior and the distinction between life-course persistent and adolescence-limited offenders. Her research provides valuable insights into how various factors, including genetics, environment, and social influences, shape different pathways of criminal behavior over a person's life.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Moffitt's dual taxonomy model explains how not all juvenile offenders continue their criminal behavior into adulthood; some stop after adolescence.
2. Life-course persistent offenders are often characterized by early onset of aggressive behavior, while adolescence-limited offenders usually engage in delinquency due to social influences.
3. Moffitt emphasizes that both biological factors and environmental contexts play critical roles in shaping individual pathways of offending.
4. Her work has influenced policies related to juvenile justice and interventions aimed at reducing antisocial behavior among at-risk youth.
5. Moffitt’s research is foundational in understanding how different types of offenders can be approached differently in treatment and prevention strategies.

Review Questions

• How does Moffitt's dual taxonomy differentiate between life-course persistent and adolescence-limited offenders?
  • Moffitt's dual taxonomy differentiates between life-course persistent offenders, who exhibit early signs of antisocial behavior that continue throughout their lives, and adolescence-limited offenders, who typically engage in delinquent activities during their teenage years but tend to desist as they transition into adulthood. This distinction highlights that not all youth who commit crimes will follow the same trajectory, with life-course persistent offenders often facing more complex psychological and environmental challenges.
• In what ways do biological and environmental factors interact in Moffitt's theory to influence offending behavior?
  • In Moffitt's theory, biological factors such as neuropsychological deficits may predispose certain individuals to life-course persistent offending, while environmental factors like family dynamics, peer associations, and socio-economic conditions can shape the likelihood of engaging in antisocial behaviors. The interaction between these elements creates a framework where certain individuals are more susceptible to lifelong patterns of offending due to early adverse experiences combined with inherent vulnerabilities.
• Critically evaluate the implications of Moffitt's findings for juvenile justice policies aimed at rehabilitation.
  • Moffitt's findings suggest that juvenile justice policies should adopt tailored approaches based on the type of offender. For example, rehabilitation efforts for life-course persistent offenders may need to focus on addressing underlying psychological issues and providing long-term support systems, while programs targeting adolescence-limited offenders could benefit from peer intervention strategies that redirect social influences. By recognizing these differences, policies can be more effective in reducing recidivism rates and facilitating better outcomes for youth involved in the criminal justice system.

Related terms

Life-Course Persistent Offending: A pattern of antisocial behavior that begins in childhood and continues throughout a person's life, often linked to neuropsychological deficits and adverse environmental factors.

Adolescence-Limited Offending: A pattern of criminal behavior that emerges during adolescence and typically diminishes as the individual transitions into adulthood, often influenced by peer associations and social contexts.

Developmental Psychology: The scientific study of how and why human beings change over the course of their life, including cognitive, emotional, and social development.