生命歷程理論已經逐漸成為理解犯罪行為的最重要的理論架構之一。與傳統的犯罪學理論相比較，生命歷程理論研究個體在整個生命過程中（包括童年，青少年，以及成年）犯罪行為的持續性和變遷，而不僅是研究幼兒及青少年時期個體間犯罪行為的差別。在本文中，我們將首先簡要介紹生命歷程理論的基本概念和理論體系，包括生命歷程理論的歷史發展和基本的理論建構。其次, 我們將要探討生命歷程理論在犯罪學中的發展和相應的實證研究；具體地說，我們將要瞭解個體在生命過程中犯罪行為的兩個顯著特徵，即犯罪行為的穩定性和變遷，以及犯罪學家如何用不同的理論去解釋這種穩定和變遷。最後，我們將簡要地評估生命歷程理論對犯罪學研究的貢獻，並勾勒出生命歷程理論將來的研究發展方向。

Life course perspective has gradually become one of the most important
theoretical frameworks in understanding criminal behavior. Different from
traditional criminological theories which focus mostly on childhood and
adolescence, this perspective takes individual’s full life span (including childhood,adolescence, and adulthood) into consideration and examines continuity and change of individual criminal behavior over time. In this chapter, we will briefly introduce the major concepts and theories of the life course perspective, including the historical development and basic framework of these theories. Next, we will explore
the development of life course perspective in criminology, as well as related empirical studies. More specifically, we will introduce the two major concepts in life course perspective, continuity and change in individual’s criminal behavior, and different theories developed specifically to explain the two concepts. Finally, we will briefly evaluate the contribution of life course theories to criminology research,
and outline the direction of this perspective’s future development.