Developmental Taxonomy Research Articles

The utility of Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy in predicting being processed through the criminal justice system

ABSTRACT Moffitt’s (1993) developmental taxonomy has guided a great deal of research and has had a profound impact on the field of criminology. Much of this research has focused on her explanation of life-course-persistent offenders, wherein she argued that a combination of being reared in an adverse environment and having neuropsychological deficits would lead to lifelong offending. The current study used this explanation to extend tests of Moffitt’s theory by examining whether the combination of childhood maltreatment and neuropsychological deficits would have application that moves beyond the prediction of life-course-persistent offending and was able to account for participants being processed through the criminal justice system. Analysis of data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) revealed that childhood maltreatment and neuropsychological deficits were both independently associated with being arrested, being convicted, and being incarcerated, but that the interaction between these two measures was largely null in the prediction of the outcomes.

The transcriptomic and spatial organization of telencephalic GABAergic neuronal types.

The telencephalon of the mammalian brain comprises multiple regions and circuit pathways that play adaptive and integrative roles in a variety of brain functions. There is a wide array of GABAergic neurons in the telencephalon; they play a multitude of circuit functions, and dysfunction of these neurons has been implicated in diverse brain disorders. In this study, we conducted a systematic and in-depth analysis of the transcriptomic and spatial organization of GABAergic neuronal types in all regions of the mouse telencephalon and their developmental origins. This was accomplished by utilizing 611,423 single-cell transcriptomes from the comprehensive and high-resolution transcriptomic and spatial cell type atlas for the adult whole mouse brain we have generated, supplemented with an additional single-cell RNA-sequencing dataset containing 99,438 high-quality single-cell transcriptomes collected from the pre- and postnatal developing mouse brain. We present a hierarchically organized adult telencephalic GABAergic neuronal cell type taxonomy of 7 classes, 52 subclasses, 284 supertypes, and 1,051 clusters, as well as a corresponding developmental taxonomy of 450 clusters across different ages. Detailed charting efforts reveal extraordinary complexity where relationships among cell types reflect both spatial locations and developmental origins. Transcriptomically and developmentally related cell types can often be found in distant and diverse brain regions indicating that long-distance migration and dispersion is a common characteristic of nearly all classes of telencephalic GABAergic neurons. Additionally, we find various spatial dimensions of both discrete and continuous variations among related cell types that are correlated with gene expression gradients. Lastly, we find that cortical, striatal and some pallidal GABAergic neurons undergo extensive postnatal diversification, whereas septal and most pallidal GABAergic neuronal types emerge simultaneously during the embryonic stage with limited postnatal diversification. Overall, the telencephalic GABAergic cell type taxonomy can serve as a foundational reference for molecular, structural and functional studies of cell types and circuits by the entire community.

Alcohol Use and Moffitt's Maturity Gap Thesis for Adolescent Offending: An Evolutionary Perspective and Analysis.

While a wealth of research has focused on testing several arguments from Moffitt's developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior-mainly the presence of life-course-persistent vs. adolescence-limited offending and predictors of each trajectory-much less attention has been devoted to examining how evolutionarily adaptive lifestyle factors common during adolescence may condition the relationship between the maturity gap and delinquent offending. One factor that may play a role during this period of development is alcohol use, as many adolescents begin to experiment with consuming alcohol in varying degrees in social settings to model adult-like behaviors. Yet presently much is unknown about the role of alcohol use on the association between the maturity gap and delinquency. The current study aims to address this void in the literature by analyzing data from a U.S. sample of adolescent males (N = 1,276) to assess whether alcohol use moderates the relationship between the maturity gap and delinquent behavior. Findings suggest that the maturity gap is associated with delinquent behavior and that the association becomes weaker at higher levels of alcohol use. The implications of these findings for Moffitt's maturity gap thesis and male offending from an evolutionary perspective are discussed.

Predicting Moffitt's Developmental Taxonomy of Antisocial Behavior Using Life History Theory: A Partial Test of the Evolutionary Taxonomy.

Evolutionary criminology is an approach to the understanding of crime and criminality that is based in part on key aspects of evolutionary psychology. The approach allows for a renewed examination of traditional criminological assumptions and can serve to further enhance theoretical viewpoints on antisocial behavior. The recently developed evolutionary taxonomy theory is an example of such an approach. Relying on the tenets of life history theory, the evolutionary taxonomy was proposed as a theoretical scaffolding for Moffitt's developmental taxonomy of offending. While recent tests of the evolutionary taxonomy have been informative, lacking from the existing literature is an assessment of the extent to which measures of life history theory can predict classification into offending groups based on Moffitt's developmental taxonomy. The current study provided a partial test of classification predictions using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescence to Adult Health study (n = 12,012). Results of multivariable regression analyses indicated that measures associated with somatic effort and aspects of the developmental environment were predictive of group classification, but measures associated with reproductive effort were not. Implications for evolutionary criminology and traditional criminology are discussed.

Resource: A Cellular Developmental Taxonomy of the Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Population in Mice.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play pivotal roles in tissue (re)generation. In the murine bone marrow, they are thought to reside within the Sca-1+ CD51+ bone marrow stromal cell population. Here, using scRNAseq, we aimed to delineate the cellularheterogeneity of this MSC-enriched population throughout development. At the fetal stage, the MSC population is relatively homogeneous with subsets predicted to contain stem/progenitor cells, based on transcriptional modeling and marker expression. These subsets decline in relative size throughout life, with postnatal emergence of specialized clusters, including hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC) niches. In fetal development, these stromal HSPC niches are lacking, but subsets of endothelial cells express HSPC factors, suggesting that they may provide initial niches for emerging hematopoiesis. This cellular taxonomy of the MSC population upon development is anticipated to provide a resource aiding the prospective identification of cellular subsets and molecular mechanisms driving bone marrow (re)generation.

The development and evolution of inhibitory neurons in primate cerebrum

Neuroanatomists have long speculated that expanded primate brains contain an increased morphological diversity of inhibitory neurons (INs)1, and recent studies have identified primate-specific neuronal populations at the molecular level2. However, we know little about the developmental mechanisms that specify evolutionarily novel cell types in the brain. Here, we reconstruct gene expression trajectories specifying INs generated throughout the neurogenic period in macaques and mice by analysing the transcriptomes of 250,181 cells. We find that the initial classes of INs generated prenatally are largely conserved among mammals. Nonetheless, we identify two contrasting developmental mechanisms for specifying evolutionarily novel cell types during prenatal development. First, we show that recently identified primate-specific TAC3 striatal INs are specified by a unique transcriptional programme in progenitors followed by induction of a distinct suite of neuropeptides and neurotransmitter receptors in new-born neurons. Second, we find that multiple classes of transcriptionally conserved olfactory bulb (OB)-bound precursors are redirected to expanded primate white matter and striatum. These classes include a novel peristriatal class of striatum laureatum neurons that resemble dopaminergic periglomerular cells of the OB. We propose an evolutionary model in which conserved initial classes of neurons supplying the smaller primate OB are reused in the enlarged striatum and cortex. Together, our results provide a unified developmental taxonomy of initial classes of mammalian INs and reveal multiple developmental mechanisms for neural cell type evolution.

Association of subcortical gray-matter volumes with life-course-persistent antisocial behavior in a population-representative longitudinal birth cohort.

Neuropsychological evidence supports the developmental taxonomy theory of antisocial behavior, suggesting that abnormal brain development distinguishes life-course-persistent from adolescence-limited antisocial behavior. Recent neuroimaging work confirmed that prospectively-measured life-course-persistent antisocial behavior is associated with differences in cortical brain structure. Whether this extends to subcortical brain structures remains uninvestigated. This study compared subcortical gray-matter volumes between 672 members of the Dunedin Study previously defined as exhibiting life-course-persistent, adolescence-limited or low-level antisocial behavior based on repeated assessments at ages 7-26 years. Gray-matter volumes of 10 subcortical structures were compared across groups. The life-course-persistent group had lower volumes of amygdala, brain stem, cerebellum, hippocampus, pallidum, thalamus, and ventral diencephalon compared to the low-antisocial group. Differences between life-course-persistent and adolescence-limited individuals were comparable in effect size to differences between life-course-persistent and low-antisocial individuals, but were not statistically significant due to less statistical power. Gray-matter volumes in adolescence-limited individuals were near the norm in this population-representative cohort and similar to volumes in low-antisocial individuals. Although this study could not establish causal links between brain volume and antisocial behavior, it constitutes new biological evidence that all people with antisocial behavior are not the same, supporting a need for greater developmental and diagnostic precision in clinical, forensic, and policy-based interventions.

The influence of maturity on adolescents' antisocial behavior

<p id=p00005>Moffitts developmental taxonomy theory categorized antisocial behaviors (AB) into two types, namely the life-course persistent and adolescence limited (AL). Adolescent antisocial behaviors, usually develop in the early puberty and end in late adolescence or early adulthood, occur more in youth group than LCP-AB. Maturity, in aspects of physical or psychological maturity, impacts the emergence, development and cessation of adolescent antisocial behavior. Physical maturity develops and strengthens AL-AB. Psychological maturity slows down and weakens AL-AB. The interaction between physical maturity and psychological maturity might strengthen or weaken AL-AB. The maturity gap between physical maturity and psychological maturity inhibits AL-AB. Further efforts are needed to expand different types of maturity research, improve the calculation methods of maturity, and investigate the intervention based on adolescent maturity characteristics.

An examination of the validity of Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior

An examination of the validity of Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior

Mükerrer Suçluluk, Davranım Bozukluğu ve Antisosyal Kişilik Bozukluğu’nun Ortak Değişkenleri Üzerine Bir Derleme

In this study, the relationship of repeated criminality with psychopathological disorders such as Behavioral Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder was investigated. Within the scope of the study, it was mentioned about the individuals who were diagnosed with Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder, their crime rates, what kind of crimes they tend to commit, and the studies examining crime patterns. The relationship between Antisocial Personality Disorder and repeated guilt has been addressed in the light of longitudinal studies. In this study; The mechanisms that affect the repetitive pattern of crime were evaluated by taking into account psychological disorders such as Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder. In the study, the common risk factors of the Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder; Various factors such as age status, quality of the first crime committed, family attitude, family structure factors, socioeconomic factors, intelligence and school success were examined. In addition, in this study, Lifelong Criminology Theories are included in this study in order to examine the relation of the concept of antisociality with the repeated criminality. Integrated Cognitive Antisocial Potential Theory (ICAP) and Developmental Taxonomy Theory, which are among the Lifelong Criminology Theories; By addressing the factors that affect the development of repetitive criminality through the concept of antisociality, it helps to establish the relationship between the two concepts on more solid foundations.

Associations between life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour and brain structure in a population-representative longitudinal birth cohort

SummaryBackgroundStudies with behavioural and neuropsychological tests have supported the developmental taxonomy theory of antisocial behaviour, which specifies abnormal brain development as a fundamental aspect of life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour, but no study has characterised features of brain structure associated with life-course-persistent versus adolescence-limited trajectories, as defined by prospective data. We aimed to determine whether life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour is associated with neurocognitive abnormalities by testing the hypothesis that it is also associated with brain structure abnormalities.MethodsWe used structural MRI data collected at 45 years of age from participants in the Dunedin Study, a population-representative longitudinal birth cohort of 1037 individuals born between April 1, 1972, and March 31, 1973, in Dunedin, New Zealand, who were resident in the province and who participated in the first assessment at 3 years of age. Participants underwent MRI, and mean global cortical surface area and cortical thickness were extracted for each participant. Participants had been previously subtyped as exhibiting life-course-persistent, adolescence-limited, or no history of persistent antisocial behaviour (ie, a low trajectory group) based on informant-reported and self-reported conduct problems from the ages of 7 years to 26 years. Study personnel who processed the MRI images were masked to antisocial group membership. We used linear estimated ordinary least squares regressions to compare each antisocial trajectory group (life-course persistent and adolescence limited) with the low trajectory group to examine whether antisocial behaviour was related to abnormalities in mean global surface area and mean cortical thickness. Next, we used parcel-wise linear regressions to identify antisocial trajectory group differences in surface area and cortical thickness. All results were controlled for sex and false discovery rate corrected.FindingsData from 672 participants were analysed, and 80 (12%) were classified as having life-course-persistent antisocial behaviour, 151 (23%) as having adolescence-limited antisocial behaviour, and 441 (66%) as having low antisocial behaviour. Individuals on the life-course-persistent trajectory had a smaller mean surface area (standardised β=–0·18 [95% CI −0·24 to −0·11]; p<0·0001) and lower mean cortical thickness (standardised β=–0·10 [95% CI −0·19 to −0·02]; p=0·020) than did those in the low group. Compared with the low group, the life-course-persistent group had reduced surface area in 282 of 360 anatomically defined parcels and thinner cortex in 11 of 360 parcels encompassing circumscribed frontal and temporal regions associated with executive function, affect regulation, and motivation. Widespread differences in brain surface morphometry were not observed for the adolescence-limited group compared with either non-antisocial behaviour or life-course-persistent groups.InterpretationThese analyses provide initial evidence that differences in brain surface morphometry are associated with life-course-persistent, but not adolescence-limited, antisocial behaviour. As such, the analyses are consistent with the developmental taxonomy theory of antisocial behaviour and highlight the importance of using prospective longitudinal data to define different patterns of antisocial behaviour development.FundingUS National Institute on Aging, Health Research Council of New Zealand, New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, UK Medical Research Council, Avielle Foundation, and Wellcome Trust.

Life course persistent antisocial behavior silver anniversary

Abstract In 1995 Terrie Moffitt published a fully articulated version of a 1993 paper that proposed a dual developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior. The paper triggered a cascade of research on types of criminal offending, thereby making it one of the most researched and most influential of all developmental theories of antisocial behavior. The silver anniversary of the 1995 publication seems a fitting time to review the status of the life-course-persistent (LCP) group who Moffitt suggested would enable researchers to learn more about the etiology of severe, persistent antisocial behavior from studying this group than from studying the group that had its onset of antisocial behavior in adolescence. The LCP group was hypothesized to consist of a relatively few males whose early-onset of severe antisocial behavior would persist into adulthood and had its origins in neurodevelopmental deficits interacting with various environmental risk factors. This review assessed the evidence supporting these hypotheses and reviewed the findings for early identification of the LCP group—a topic that was only modestly addressed in 1995. Lastly, the paper discussed what is one of most significant impacts of the taxonomy, providing impetus to the early-years crime prevention movement.

A Hierarchical Model of Inhibitory Control.

Inhibitory control describes the suppression of goal-irrelevant stimuli and behavioral responses. Current developmental taxonomies distinguish between Response Inhibition – the ability to suppress a prepotent motor response, and Attentional Inhibition – the ability to resist interference from distracting stimuli. Response Inhibition and Attentional Inhibition have exhibited moderately strong positive correlations in previous studies, suggesting they are closely related cognitive abilities. These results may reflect the use of cognitive tasks combining Stimulus–Stimulus- and Stimulus–Response-conflict as indicators of both constructs, which may have conflated their empirical association. Additionally, previous statistical modeling studies have not controlled for individual differences in Working Memory Capacity, which may account for some of the empirical overlap between Response Inhibition and Attentional Inhibition. The aim of the current study was to test a hierarchical model of inhibitory control that specifies Working Memory Capacity as a higher-order cognitive construct. Response Inhibition and Attentional Inhibition were conceptualized as lower-order cognitive mechanisms that should be empirically independent constructs apart from their shared reliance on Working Memory Capacity for active maintenance of goal-relevant representations. Measures of performance on modified stimulus–response compatibility tasks, complex memory span, and non-selective stopping tasks were obtained from 136 preadolescent children (M = 11 years, 10 months, SD = 8 months). Consistent with hypotheses, results from Structural Equation Modeling demonstrated that the Response Inhibition and Attentional Inhibition factors were empirically independent constructs that exhibited partial statistical dependence on the Working Memory Capacity factor. These findings have important implications for current theories and models of inhibitory control during development.

Differentiating Between Moffitt’s Developmental Taxonomy and Silverthorn and Frick’s Delayed-Onset Models of Female Offending

It is a criminological fact that females commit fewer delinquent acts than their male counterparts. This “gender gap” has long been recognized but specific questions concerning similarities or differences in the development, persistence, and desistence of antisocial behavior among females and males remain underinvestigated. Two prominent theoretical models, Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy and Silverthorn and Frick’s delayed-onset pathway, make distinct predictions about the composition of female offenders and the nature of their offending. The current study tests these explanations using longitudinal data from the Pathways to Desistance Study, a large sample of serious juvenile offenders followed for 7 years into early adulthood. Results from a series of negative binominal regressions reveal stronger support for Moffitt rather than Silverthorn and Frick in that findings showed two groups of female offenders. Directions for future research are highlighted.

Moffitt’s Developmental Taxonomy and Gang Membership

Moffitt’s taxonomy remains an influential theoretical framework within criminology. Despite much empirical scrutiny, comparatively less time has been spent testing the snares component of Moffitt’s work. Specifically, are there factors that might engender continued criminal involvement for individuals otherwise likely to desist? The current study tested whether gang membership increased the odds of contact with the justice system for each of the offender groups specified in Moffitt’s original developmental taxonomy. Our findings provided little evidence that gang membership increased the odds of either adolescence-limited or life-course persistent offenders being processed through the criminal justice system. Moving forward, scholars may wish to shift attention to alternative variables—beyond gang membership—when testing the snares hypothesis.

Alcohol Use in Emerging Adulthood: Can Moffitt's Developmental Theory Help Us Understand Binge Drinking Among College Students?

ABSTRACTIt is well-known that college students are at an increased risk for alcohol use and binge drinking compared to their same-age peers who are not in college. We use Moffitt's developmental taxonomy, specifically, her discussion of adolescence-limited offending, to contextualize this finding regarding this minor form of deviance. We also incorporate Arnett's notion of emerging adulthood to argue that the maturity gap, as described by Moffitt, can extend beyond adolescence. The current research used data from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 4,264). We examined differences in sample characteristics between respondents who were currently enrolled in college full-time and those who were not. We also estimated several logistic regression models to determine how full-time college status and two measures of maturity were correlated with weekly binge drinking. We found that respondents who were full-time college students had an increased risk for binge drinking and were also less mature than their peers. Further analyses indicated that full-time college students were at an increased risk for binge drinking because they lacked maturity and the lack of adult roles that characterize the college years gives students more freedom to binge drink. These results supported both Moffitt's explanation of adolescence-limited offending and Arnett's notion of emerging adults.

Adolescent Abstention From Delinquency: Examining the Mediating Role of Time Spent With (Delinquent) Peers.

Research consistently identifies a group of adolescents who refrain from minor delinquency entirely. Known as abstainers, studying these adolescents is an underexplored approach to understanding adolescent minor delinquency. In this paper, we tested hypotheses regarding adolescent delinquency abstention derived from the developmental taxonomy model and social control theory in 497 adolescents (283 boys) aged 13-18 comparing three groups of adolescents: abstainers, experimenters, and a delinquent group. We found that the relation between adolescent abstention and personal characteristics (i.e., conscientiousness and anxiety) was (partially) mediated by the amount of time spent with peers. Furthermore, the level of best friend delinquency moderated the relation between time spent with peers and delinquency abstention. Results support aspects of both theoretical frameworks.

The impact of snares on the continuity of adolescent-onset antisocial behaviour: A test of Moffitt’s developmental taxonomy

Moffitt’s dual typology of ‘life-course persistent’ and ‘adolescence limited’ offending has received extensive empirical attention, but the extent to which the antisocial behaviour of adolescence limited offenders is constrained to adolescence is relatively under-examined. Using data from the Australian Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its Outcomes, we explore Moffitt’s concept of snares, or those factors that may lead to an adolescent persisting in antisocial behaviour such as drug addiction, educational failure, and contact with the justice system. The Mater University Study of Pregnancy and its Outcomes is a longitudinal study of mother–child dyads from the pre-natal stage to 21 years of age. Findings show that one-third of individuals identified as having an adolescent onset of antisocial behaviour persisted with this antisocial behaviour as young adults. This continuity can, in part, be explained by snares and the research suggests that reducing exposure to snares may lead to less antisocial behaviour in adulthood.

Can they recover? An assessment of adult adjustment problems among males in the abstainer, recovery, life-course persistent, and adolescence-limited pathways followed up to age 56 in the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development.

Much research has examined Moffitt's developmental taxonomy, focusing almost exclusively on the distinction between life-course persistent and adolescence-limited offenders. Of interest, a handful of studies have identified a group of individuals whose early childhood years were marked by extensive antisocial behavior but who seemed to recover and desist (at least from severe offending) in adolescence and early adulthood. We use data from the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development to examine the adult adjustment outcomes of different groups of offenders, including a recoveries group, in late middle adulthood, offering the most comprehensive investigation of this particular group to date. Findings indicate that abstainers comprise the largest group of males followed by adolescence-limited offenders, recoveries, and life-course persistent offenders. Furthermore, the results reveal that a host of adult adjustment problems measured at ages 32 and 48 in a number of life-course domains are differentially distributed across these four offender groups. In addition, the recoveries and life-course persistent offenders often show the greatest number of adult adjustment problems relative to the adolescence-limited offenders and abstainers.

Exploring Moffitt's developmental taxonomy of conduct disorder: An epidemiological study of childhood predictors and adult outcomes of ‘life course persistent’ and ‘adolescence limited’ conduct disorder

Exploring Moffitt's developmental taxonomy of conduct disorder: An epidemiological study of childhood predictors and adult outcomes of ‘life course persistent’ and ‘adolescence limited’ conduct disorder