The longitudinal study was initiated in 1965 by the Institute of Criminology at Germany's University of Tubengen. The interdisciplinary research team included psychiatrists, lawyers, jurists, psychologists, sociologists, social workers, and others. The sample included 400 young male adults with German citizenship; the offender group consisted of 200 prison inmates, while the control group consisted of 200 males in the general population. Criminality was studied in terms of differential life histories. Study findings identified different starting conditions for subjects that were influenced but not necessarily determined by antisocial behavior, attributions, stigmatizations, and sanctions. Individual development varied, even though many had the same starting conditions. Evidence appeared to indicate that disadvantages in life and stress factors had a cumulative effect and limited the chances of an individual to choose a normal lifestyle over a criminal career. On the other hand, study findings showed positive ties and retreat zones which helped individuals avoid negative effects of deviations from a normal lifestyle. Bad starting conditions increased disadvantages and problems in childhood and adolescence which increased the probability of adult criminality. 31 references, 1 table, and 14 figures