Mentors and Criminal Achievement

General overview of the article

The article was published in 2006 following a research spanning over one year in Quebec Province, Canada, attempting to investigate the role of a mentor in the process of a person’s assumption of criminal life. It derives information from previous studies on other occupations that suggest similar roles of a mentor.

Research problem and hypothesis/question

The researchers argue that in career field, the role of a mentor is evidently one of the most significant factors that drive the career of an individual (Morselli, Tremblay and McCarthy 17). They use a number of studies to show how individual career programs and careers are developed through mentorship. From the study, it is evident that the current knowledge in career development recommends the young people to be under the influence of mentors in schools and other institutions in order to shape their career, skills and capabilities at the respective places of employment, which is based on evidence from empirical research. Nevertheless, the role of mentors in crime is not well understood from an empirical perspective. The researchers note that the development of a criminal life, just like career, is enhanced, and sometimes initiated, by a mentor (Morselli, Tremblay and McCarthy 21). In particular, the individuals who introduce young people to crime are considered the best mentors in criminal life. Thus, the study is based on this knowledge gap, which defines the current study problem.

Although the researchers have noted defined the specific research question that is being addressed in the article, it is clear that their hypothesis argues that mentors play a key role in enhancing criminal development and achievements. The hypothesis is simple yet well stated and attempts to examine a phenomenon that is a current social problem.