Final answer:
Loeber identifies the covert pathway as a progression from minor underhanded behaviors to more serious criminal activities, which is part of broader sociological theories on deviance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Loeber identifies the covert pathway as a situation where a delinquent career begins with minor, underhanded behavior such as lying, which leads progressively to more criminally serious behavior. This pathway can be understood within the larger framework of sociological theories concerning deviance and crime.
These theories include the concept of primary deviance, in which a person commits minor deviant acts without affecting their self-identity, and secondary deviance, where individuals embrace a deviant identity after being labeled as such by society. Understanding these pathways and developmental progressions in moral reasoning and behavior allow us to better comprehend and address the nuances of criminal behavior and its prevention