The Influence of Negative Life Events That Force Deviation from Age Norms on Criminal Behavior: Theoretical Insight and Analysis of Local Typical Cases
ZHANG Xiao-hu
Research Center of Criminal Law, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872
Abstract:The life course paradigm is an important achievement in studying human life. It is a key topic of life course research on the influence of negative life events forcing deviation from age norms on criminal behavior. Research has shown that age norms define the normal sequence of major life events over an individual’s lifespan, the sequence by which a person will build a normal life trajectory. Negative life events that force deviation from age norms can objectively affect the formation of the normal life trajectory of an individual and even lead to the initiation and continuation of a criminal career. The empirical studies of interviews with typical cases in prison clearly show the significant influence of negative life events that force deviation from age norms on criminal behavior. The occurrence of negative life events in the sensitive age stage will play a key role in the subsequent life trajectory of individuals and even the formation of professional habitual offenders. At the same time, due to the longitudinal correlation effect of negative life events, even if some negative life events occur in the individual’s adulthood, which is not a sensitive age stage, if the adult’s social life situation shows that the ability to cope with the adverse consequences of negative life events is weak, this negative life event will also lead to the abnormal life transitions of the adult into crime.
张小虎. 迫使偏离年龄规范的消极生命事件对犯罪行为的影响:理论洞悉与本土典型例证[J]. 《深圳大学学报》(人文社科版), 2025, 42(1): 92-101.
ZHANG Xiao-hu. The Influence of Negative Life Events That Force Deviation from Age Norms on Criminal Behavior: Theoretical Insight and Analysis of Local Typical Cases. , 2025, 42(1): 92-101.
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