How the Ascertained Longitudinal Projects Might Be Utilized in Criminological Research (From Longitudinal Research in the United States - Relevance to Primary Prevention of Delinquency, Volume 1 - Longitudinal Research Methods, P 237-257, 1981, Sarnoff A Mednick and Michele Harway, ed. - See NCJ-830

• NCJ Number: 83033
• Author(s): S A Mednick; W F Gabrielli; K T VanDusen
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Southern California
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-83031

Annotation

How important questions in criminologic practice and theory may be answered by analyses of existing prospective longitudinal studies is examined.

Abstract

Overall, the issues examined deal with the etiology of delinquency and crime addressed by the use of existing longitudinal research project. The emphasis on etiology warranted focus on longitudinal studies encompassing the perinatal to adolescent period of development. The studies reviewed deal with the general topics of biological and cognitive antecedents of criminal behavior, personality, family factors and delinquency, attachment to schools, influence of peers, and neighborhood characteristics. In discussing the biological and cognitive antecedents of criminal behavior, consideration is given to birth damage and a person's propensity of violence and cognitive factors and delinquency (reading readiness, learning disability, school achievement, and intelligence test scores). Personality characteristics considered are inhibition of impulse, self-esteem, rebelliousness, aggression, and level of aspiration. Family factors examined are family structure, attachment to family, socioeconomic status, family discipline, and mobility. Studies dealing with each of these topics are briefly reviewed. Eleven references are listed.