Citation

MacMillan R. Can. J. Sociol. 1995; 20(1): 51-79.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, University of Alberta)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

One of the paradoxes of contemporary society is the trend in aggregate crime rates, a trend that, for all intents and purposes, has been consistently upward in the post-war period. Because previous attempts to provide an account of both the motivational and opportunity prerequisites of crime have been relatively weak, the present paper proposes such a framework by integrating insights from life course research with a conception of the age stratification of social control. From this perspective, changes in the timing and order of life course events characteristic of the transition from adolescence to adulthood have weakened social control mechanisms for late teens and young adults. When significant life course events are delayed or removed, there is a consequent decline in institutional bonds and social capital. It is theorized that these declines play an important role in aggregate crime rate trends by increasing the size of the pool of motivated offenders. This perspective was tested in a time series analysis of Canadian property crime data and the results provide strong support for the proposed models. Further implications of this argument are also explored.

Language: en