The development of offending and antisocial behavior from childhood: key findings from the Cambridge study in delinquent development

A study conducted on 411 South London males in the age group of 8 to 32 by the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development revealed that the types of acts leading to convictions belong to a larger syndrome of antisocial behavior. Childhood predictors of criminality included antisocial behavior, impulsivity, family criminality, low intelligence, poor parental child-rearing and poverty. Factors found to help people desist from offending included a job, marriage and moving away from London. The study showed to what extent delinquency could be predicted with children and the influence of various life events on the development of a criminal career.