Deterrence and delinquency: An analysis of individual data

Is commission of crime deterred by fear of arrest? Individual self-reported data on the commission of three crimes are analyzed in relation to perceived probabilities of arrest for more than 3000 French-speaking teenagers of the Montreal school population in 1974. The crimes are shoplifting, drug use, and stealing an item worth more than $50.00. In addition to the effect of the individuals' perceptions of the probability of arrest for the three crimes, age, sex, and previous arrest record are also taken into account. The data are all categorical. A multivariate log-linear probability model is estimated in order to test hypotheses concerning the direction and magnitude of bivariate associations among the variables. We conclude that there is clear evidence of a negative association between the subjective probability of arrest for each crime and the frequency of commission of that crime. We also find some negative cross-effects of the perceptions of the probability of arrest for one type of crime on the commission of another, holding constant the direct effects.     

A latent structure analysis of delinquency

This paper uses latent structure analysis to develop a construct of delinquency based on a set of frequently used indicators of illegal behavior. Other methods, such as Guttman scaling and factor analytic procedures, are briefly reviewed as similar attempts to identify manifest (observed) variables that may act as indicators of a latent (unobserved or unobservable) variable, delinquency. The basic mathematical properties of the latent structure model employed in this paper are presented and then applied to a set of six self-report measures. The issue of external validity is also examined in a comparative analysis of an additive scale of delinquency and the latent class measure of delinquency. The latent class measure provides a considerable increase in the magnitude of association with such commonly studied correlates as attachment, peer delinquency, and instrumental attitudes toward the law.     

转型期的家庭变迁与青少年违法犯罪

当前中国社会转型所引发的巨大变革,剧烈地冲击着作为社会基本单位的家庭,从而使家庭结构出现异化与失衡、家庭关系承受压力与紧张、家庭教育面临失范与挑战等。转型期家庭的这些变迁势必会导致部分青少年在社会化过程中的失管、失误、失控与失常,从而诱发他们走上违法犯罪的道路。因此如何减少家庭变迁所带来的负面震荡效应,对预防和减少青少年违法犯罪具有十分重要的意义。     

Ethical issues raised when early intervention is used to prevent crime

The European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, Vol. 5, No. 2, was focused on early intervention and prevention of juvenile delinquency. The author comments on the issue and focuses on the ethical problems involved with early intervention, such as the labelling effect, the risks of prediction, consent, and undesired effects.     

权益侵害激活青少年犯罪的心理透视

权益侵害是青少年犯罪的激活因素,权益侵害对青少年犯罪的激活是借助于心理机制来实现的,离开了认知、欲望、动机、情感和意识,青少年的犯罪行为就不可能被发动。只有充分认识这一心理过程,才能有效预防和控制青少年犯罪。     

论青少年犯罪社区预防

青少年犯罪问题日显严峻,预防控制青少年犯罪是一项巨大的社会系统工程。除原有的预防措施之外,还应针对青少年生活的社区特点,重视社区在预防和控制青少年犯罪中的作用,加强社区建设,构建青少年犯罪社区多层次预防机制。     

Friends,Cognition, and Delinquency: Proactive and Reactive Criminal Thinking as Mediators of the Peer Influence and Peer Selection Effects among Male Delinquents

The purpose of this study was to determine whether criminal thinking underpins peer influence and selection. It was predicted that proactive criminal thinking would mediate the peer influence effect (peers?→?offending) and reactive criminal thinking would mediate the peer selection effect (offending?→?peers). Participants were 1,170 male delinquent youth from the Pathways to Desistance study. The Moral Disengagement scale (proactive criminal thinking) and Peer Delinquent Behavior scale (peer delinquency) were cross-lagged to predict criminal offending, and the Weinberger Impulse Control scale (reactive criminal thinking) and criminal offending were cross-lagged to predict peer delinquency. Consistent with predictions, proactive but not reactive criminal thinking successfully mediated the peer?→?offending relationship and reactive but not proactive criminal thinking successfully mediated the offending?→?peer relationship. Whereas delinquent peer associations appear to promote proactive criminal thinking and peer influence, early criminal offending appears to promote reactive criminal thinking and peer selection.     

Manipulative relational behaviour and delinquency: sex differences and links with emotional intelligence

Trait emotional intelligence (EI) encompasses high levels of emotional understanding and is generally associated with positive outcomes. However, research has suggested that high EI might predispose some young females to delinquency. The present study investigated whether this relationship can be accounted for by a tendency towards emotionally manipulative behaviours, facilitated by high EI. Two hundred and fifty-two young adults (125 female) completed measures of EI, Machiavellianism, the managing emotions of others scale (MEOS) and self-reported delinquent behaviour. High EI females presented higher levels of delinquency, Machiavellian Tactics and morality, the supposedly prosocial MEOS behaviours enhancing and diverting and the non-prosocial behaviours worsening, inauthenticity and concealing. High-EI males reported fewer delinquent offences, high levels of MEOS prosocial enhancing behaviour and low levels of non-prosocial behaviours. We suggest that high-EI may enable manipulative relational behaviours in some females which in turn support delinquency aimed at fulfilment of social or material goals.     

社会转型期青少年犯罪防控机制对策研究简

转型期的中国各种社会矛盾十分突出,刑事犯罪呈动态化和复杂化态势,其中新生代农民犯罪问题备受社会关注.闲散青少年群体、有不良行为或严重不良行为的青少年群体、流浪乞讨青少年群体、服刑在教人员的未成年子女群体、农村留守儿童群体被列为五类重点青少年群体,如何促使其市民化是防控青少年犯罪的关键点.本文拟就青少年犯罪尤其是“新生代农民”违法犯罪问题进行社会归因研究,结合犯罪心理学、社会学、治安管理学等理论,就防控青少年犯罪以及如何促使其顺利完成城市社会化等问题进行探讨.     

Sex differences in the relationship between sensation seeking,trait emotional intelligence and delinquent behaviour

Levels of sensation seeking peak in adolescence and there is a well-documented association of sensation seeking with delinquency and other risk-taking behaviours. The present study investigated the potential moderating effect of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) on this relationship. Trait EI encompasses high levels of empathy and emotion regulation and is associated with positive outcomes and well-being. Ninety-six young adults (48 females and 48 males; overall M_age = 19.76) completed measures of sensation seeking, trait EI and self-reported delinquent behaviours (DB) since age 12. Results indicated that sensation seeking and frequency of DB were positively associated, but this effect was moderated by trait EI for male participants – those with lower trait EI showed a greater increase in delinquency, in line with a rise in sensation seeking. No moderation effect was observed for females, and females with higher levels of trait EI reported more DB. The results are discussed in terms of the protective role of trait EI in supporting self-regulation and whether, for some females, high levels of emotional intelligence might predispose them to antisocial relational behaviours.