Mofitt's Dual Taxonomy

Question 1

Mofitt’s Developmental Taxonomy

Answer 1

A systematic classification system where two groups require assertions about origins and outcomes, classifies behavioural correlates and explains the relationship between taxa and correlates between age and antisocial behaviour.
-Life-course persistent or adolescent limited.
A classification becomes taxonomy if it emerges assertions about the origins and outcomes by weaving a nomological net of relationships.

Question 2

Age-Crime Curve

Answer 2

-15% of adolescent-limited desisted in early 20s
-85% of individuals desisted by age 28
Based off of information from FBI index arrests, these individuals are not arrested under the age of 12
-Behaviours that extend the age-crime curve are of a small percentage and begin very young

Question 3

Adolescent limited

Answer 3

• Later onset of antisocial behaviour and normative development. When adolescents hit the age of puberty, we push back against parents which may create antisocial or criminal behaviour
• Have minimal risk factors as they are part of the normative population
• Most desist during adulthood when opportunities are presented for them.
  -Show a discontinuity where individuals are likely to behave in antisocial ways when it is likely to benefit them because of the lack of heterotypic continuity

Question 4

Life-course persistent

Answer 4

-Early onset during early childhood
-50% have acquired neurological, psychological, and environmental risk factors
-Have poor long-term outcomes
-High proportion of MPA’s

Question 5

Heterotypic continuity

Answer 5

Continuity of an inferred trait or attribute that is presumed to underlie diverse phenotypic behaviours
-A specific behaviour in childhood might not be predictive but it may still be associated with behaviours that are conceptually consistent with earlier behaviour.

Question 6

Why is prognosis poor for offenders that persist beyond 25 years?

Answer 6

-Most individuals persist with the arrival of an opportunity when criminal behaviour is no longer rewarding. It is difficult to treat for this reason as some other factors (snares) is likely going on.
-Drug/alcohol
-Unemployment
-Unpaid debts
-Homelessness
-DUIs
-Violent assaults
-Unstable relationships

Question 7

2 types of neuropsychological deficits important for antisocial outcomes

Answer 7

-Verbal functioning
-Executive functioning

Question 8

Snowball effect

Answer 8

Developmental trajectory from birth
-Neuropsychological functions, problem-child, poor parental interactions, emergence of antisocial behaviours, poor peer group interactions, poor school outcomes, poor employment opportunities

Question 9

Why don’t all teens become delinquent?

Answer 9

-Delayed puberty
-Access to roles respected by adults
-Environmental limits on behaviour for learning about delinquency (small town, strict parents)
-Personal characteristics that exclude from a delinquent group.

Question 10

Why do most adolescents desist from delinquency?

Answer 10

-Desistance is generally a response from shifting contingencies. The chance of gaining a criminal record narrows opportunities, new responsibilities such as getting married and the development of stronger interpersonal relationships, some may begin attending post-secondary school, hormonal changes after becoming a parent.
-Typically have options for change with no issues in IQ, educated, no TBI, and often likely to graduate.

Question 11

Snares

Answer 11

Anything that will reduce options for desistance later in life
-Addiction
-Criminal record

Question 12

Why does Mofitt’s taxonomy fit into a general theory of crime?

Answer 12

come up with it