Self-Perceptions of Attractiveness and Offending During Adolescence

Despite a well-established body of research demonstrating that others? evaluations of a person?s physical attractiveness carry significant meaning, researchers have largely ignored how self-perceptions of physical attractiveness relate to offending behaviors. Applying general strain theory and using...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mowen, Thomas J. (Author)
Contributors: Boman, John H. ; Kopf, Samantha ; Booth, Margaret Z.
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2022
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2022, Volume: 68, Issue: 10, Pages: 1847-1875
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Keywords:
attractiveness
Crime
Deviance
General Strain Theory
Description
Summary:Despite a well-established body of research demonstrating that others? evaluations of a person?s physical attractiveness carry significant meaning, researchers have largely ignored how self-perceptions of physical attractiveness relate to offending behaviors. Applying general strain theory and using eight waves of panel data from the Adolescent Academic Context Study, we explore how self-perceptions of attractiveness relate to offending as youth progress through school. Results demonstrate that youth who perceive themselves as more attractive engage in more?not less?offending. Depression, which is treated as a form of negative affect, does not appear to mediate this relationship. We conclude by raising attention to the possibility that being ?good-looking? may actually be a key risk factor for crime.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/0011128720987196