Trajectories of Violent Behavior Among Females and Males

• NCJ Number: 251986
• Journal: Child Development Volume: 88 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2017 Pages: 41-54
• Author(s): Elizabeth Cauffman; Adam Fine; April G. Thomas; Kathryn C. Monahan
• Date Published: January 2017
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2007-MU-FX-0002
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Grant Sponsored)

Annotation

This study identified patterns of violent behavior across 7 years among 172 females and 172 matched males ages 15-24, in order to test whether heterogeneity in violent offending is linked to (a) developmental change in impulse control and (b) attainment of adult milestones.

Abstract

Both the psychological and criminological fields have long hypothesized the mechanisms that influence desistance from violent offending, but few studies have focused on violent females. In the current study, fewer females persisted in violence (25 percent) than males (46 percent); 19 percent of males increased in violent behavior. Females who developed impulse control and were employed were more likely to desist from violence. Violent offending was unrelated to other adult milestones. Developmental increases in impulse control may trigger desistance, and employment may maintain desistance from violence.