Perceptions of a Maturity Gap and Its Association with Delinquency: An Alternative Test of Moffitt

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Existing literature testing Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior has illustrated the construct validity of life-course persistent (LCP) and adolescent-limited (AL) offenders. Less represented are assessments of the etiological factors underlying these two groups. Moffitt suggested that AL offending results from frustration due to a maturity gap – the disjunction between biological and social maturity during adolescence. Although previous attempts to measure the maturity gap using pubertal and social development has produced some preliminary support, further assessment of Moffitt’s ideas is required. Specifically, at present it is unclear if differential perception of a maturity gap (beyond differential pubertal development) is also related to antisocial behavior during adolescence. The present study seeks to address this gap by proposing a subjective measure of the maturity gap. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we constructed a measure tapping psychological frustration due to a perceived maturity gap. Additionally, we examined the relationship between this perceptual measure and delinquency at various points in the life course. Our findings indicate that the maturity gap is a multi-faceted construct that has a robust association with AL offending. We discuss our findings in relation to existing literature and propose potential avenues for future research.

Authors

• Insun Park, University of Cincinnati

• Joseph L. Nedelec, University of Cincinnati