The Impact of Social Institutions and Individual Life Domains on Criminal Behavior Over the Life Course.

Traditionally, criminological theories have relied on either strictly macro- or micro-level variables in their explanations of criminal behavior. More recently, theorists have proposed the macro-micro integration of theoretical perspectives. For example, recent work by Agnew (2006, 2005), Akers (1998), and Sampson and Laub (1993; Laub and Sampson, 2003) have included propositions that implicate the need for cross-level theoretical models. In particular, Agnew (2005) points to the individual level life domains of self (i.e., personality traits and low self-control), family, school, peers, and work as explanatory factors in criminal behavior over the life course. Additionally, community level factors, including socioeconomic status and the function of social institutions, may influence criminal behavior through their impact on these life domains. For example, economic forces and the structure of social institutions may impact parenting factors (e.g., supervision and bonding), which then impact delinquency. The primary goal of the current study is to explore some of Agnew's (2006, 2005) propositions with a longitudinal hierarchical dataset that contains three levels of data; time periods nested within individuals, nested within census tracts. Analyses will utilize Hierarchical Linear Modeling strategies to explore the impact of social institutions on individual-level social bonds and criminal behavior over the life course. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]