Puberty and Criminal Behavior: A Longitudinal Test of Criminal Behavior as a Life History Strategy

• In Event: Recent Developments in Biosocial and Developmental Research

Abstract

Research indicates that childhood environmental variables are essential for understanding deviance and criminality. Similarly, some researchers in evolutionary anthropology and human development argue that risky and antisocial behavior can be explained by somatic developments that occur in response to evolutionary pressures. Like many social scientific theories, life history (LH) theory suggests that humans behave largely as a function of environmental influence. LH theory argues that environmental unpredictability and harshness in childhood cause accelerated physical and neural development, which predicts risky behavior in later life. That is, bodies develop at a more rapid pace in dangerous and uncertain environments so that they have a greater chance of reaching reproductive age before the environment kills or disables them. Some researchers have attempted to link cognitive developments described by LH theory to extant theories of risky and criminal behavior, like self-control theory. We improve on previous research by 1) using a prospective longitudinal study which can help overcome time ordering issues, 2) using a physical indicator of LH strategy in the form of pubertal timing assessed at two different times, and 3) using two different constructs potentially representing cognitive correlates of a fast LH strategy. This study lends support to the LH perspective.

Authors

• Eric T. Klopack, University of Georgia

• Ronald L. Simons, University of Georgia