John Laub

John Laub is an American sociologist known for his research on crime and criminal behavior. He has significantly contributed to understanding how life events and social factors influence criminality and desistance from crime. Laub, along with Robert Sampson, introduced the "age-graded theory of informal social control," emphasizing how relationships, community ties, and life transitions affect individuals' pathways out of crime. His work has been influential in criminology, particularly in studying why some individuals move away from criminal behavior as they age, focusing on the role of social bonds and personal development.