Longitudinal and reciprocal relations between delay discounting and crime.
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Abstract | :
Theorists argue that self-control failure is the underlying cause of criminal behavior, with previous research linking poor self-control to delinquency and drug use. The path from self-control to crime is well-established, but less is known about whether criminal behavior contributes to self-control deficits over time. We investigated bi-directional relations between self-control assessed via a delay discounting task and self-reported crime over a three-year period. During their first, second (73.38% retention rate), and third (63.12% retention rate) years of college, 526 undergraduates completed a delay discounting task and reported on their criminal behavior. In order to maximize variability, participants with conduct problems were overrecruited, comprising 23.1% of the final sample. As expected, more discounting of hypothetical monetary rewards significantly predicted future property crime across a one and two-year period, even when controlling for initial levels of both. This study also demonstrated evidence of a bi-directional relationship; violent crime predicted higher rates of delay discounting one year later. These results suggest that bi-directional relations exist between self-control and types of crime. |
Year of Publication | :
2017
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Journal | :
Personality and individual differences
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Volume | :
111
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Number of Pages | :
193-198
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Date Published | :
2017
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ISSN Number | :
0191-8869
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DOI | :
10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.023
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Short Title | :
Pers Individ Dif
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