NCJ Number
121714
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: (December 1989) Pages: 257-263
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Lifestyle criminality is defined as a life pattern of irresponsible, self-indulgent, interpersonally intrusive, social rule breaking behavior.
Abstract
Disresponsibility is a process in which a person's actions and behavior are attributed to factors other than the person himself. It is argued that disresponsibility has interfered with our ability to understand and manage criminal behavior because it provides the lifestyle criminal with legitimately sounding excuses for his norm-violating actions. Strategies by which we can move from a psychology of disresponsibility to one which emphasizes personal responsibility are discussed. 4 references. (Author abstract)