Criminal Tthinking: a fixed or fluid process?

This research examined whether levels of criminal thinking are fixed or fluid across situational contexts. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that criminal thinking and antisocial attitudes would increase with greater proximity to a criminal act. Results of Study 1 revealed no significant group...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Morgan, Robert D. (Author)
Contributors: Batastini, Ashley B. ; Murray, Danielle D. ; Serna, Catherine ; Porras, Claudia
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2015
In: Criminal justice and behavior
Year: 2015, Volume: 42, Issue: 10, Pages: 1045-1065
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
antisocial attitudes
Correctional Treatment
Criminal thinking
Risk assessment
Description
Summary:This research examined whether levels of criminal thinking are fixed or fluid across situational contexts. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that criminal thinking and antisocial attitudes would increase with greater proximity to a criminal act. Results of Study 1 revealed no significant group differences on measures of criminal thinking and attitudes between college students who were asked to plan what they believed to be a criminal act and those who viewed a movie clip depicting a criminal act. Inmates in Study 2 completed the same outcome measures as participants in Study 1; however, prior to post-assessment, those in the experimental group were instructed to recall a prior crime, whereas the control group completed post-assessments under normal testing conditions. Results of Study 2 were generally consistent with Study 1. Additional research is needed to understand the nature of criminal cognitions over time and their susceptibility to various environmental factors.
ISSN:1552-3594
DOI:10.1177/0093854815578948