An uncalculated risk: ego-depletion reduces the influence of perceived risk but not state affect on criminal choice
This study assessed the relationship between state self-control and criminal choice, as well as the moderating influence of key mediators namely: perceived risk, positive and negative state affect, as well as perceived social consensus. Using a standard ego-depletion task and a between groups design...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| In: |
Psychology, crime & law
Year: 2021, Volume: 27, Issue: 6, Pages: 517-538 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | This study assessed the relationship between state self-control and criminal choice, as well as the moderating influence of key mediators namely: perceived risk, positive and negative state affect, as well as perceived social consensus. Using a standard ego-depletion task and a between groups design (N = 390), participants responded to four vignettes regarding the likelihood of engaging in a criminal behavior, the perceived risk and severity of apprehension, how that situation made them feel, and the perceived social consensus around the acceptability of a given behavior. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate and contrast path coefficients between groups. Although there were no group differences in criminal choice, perceived risk was significantly associated with criminal choice in the control but not the depletion group. Conversely, in both groups positive state affect as well as perceived social consensus were positively associated with criminal choice while negative state affect negatively associated with criminal choice. Although state self-control may not directly influence variation in criminal choice, it may influence what factors associate with it. Thus, traditional deterrents may not be as effective in a lapse of self-control. |
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| ISSN: | 1477-2744 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/1068316X.2020.1837129 |