Exposure to criminal environment and criminal social identity in a sample of adult prisoners: The moderating role of psychopathic traits

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of period of incarceration, criminal friend index (a retrospective measure intended to quantify criminal associations before first incarceration), and four psychopathy factors (interpersonal manipulation, callous affect, erratic lifestyle, and antisocial behavior) in criminal social identity (CSI) while controlling for age and gender. Participants were a sample of 501 incarcerated offenders (males n = 293; females n = 208) from three prisons located in Pennsylvania Sate. Moderated regression analyses indicated no significant direct association between period of incarceration and CSI or between criminal friend index and CSI. However, a significant moderating effect of interpersonal manipulation on the relationship between period of incarceration and CSI was observed. Period of incarceration was significantly positively correlated with CSI (particularly with in-group ties subscale) only for those offenders who scored high (1 SD above the mean) on interpersonal manipulation and significantly negatively correlated for those who scored low (1 SD below the mean) on interpersonal manipulation. Also, criminal friend index was positively significantly associated with in-group ties for high levels (1 SD above the mean) of callous affect. The main findings provide evidence for the claim that prisoners are likely to simulate changes in identity through the formation of bonds with other offenders and that this can be achieved using interpersonal manipulation skills

Further insights into the construct of criminal social identity: validation of a revised measure in a prison population

The current study objective was to develop a revised version of the Measure of Criminal Social Identity (MCSI) with an increased number of indicators to more reliably capture three MCSI dimensions. Dimensionality and construct validity of the Measure of Criminal Social Identity – Revised (MCSI-R) was examined among a sample of systematically selected inmates (N = 2,192). Four competing models of the MCSI-R were specified and tested using Mplus with weighted least squares with mean and variance adjustment (WLSMV) estimation. Bifactor model with three meaningful factors (cognitive centrality, in-group affect, and in-group ties) while controlling for the general factor was the best fit for the data. Good composite reliability of the three MCSI-R dimensions was established. The three subscales of the MCSI-R evidence differential predictive utility for prisonization, number of incarcerations, self-esteem, and violent offending. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed

The role of psychopathy and childhood experiences in rape myth acceptance in a sample of prisoners and non-prisoners

Due to the lack of a suitable measure of psychopathy to be used with Polish participants, the focus of the first empirical chapter was to translate the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (SRP-III) into Polish with the aim to test construct validity and dimensionality, incremental validity, and composite reliability of the measure in a sample of working adults (N = 319). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the best fitting model was the bifactor conceptualisation containing two general factors and four grouping factors represented by interpersonal, affective, antisocial, and lifestyle latent variables. This measure was then applied in further chapters to examine the role of psychopathy in rape myth acceptance. Based on a sample of Polish non-offending adults (n = 319) and a sample of prisoners (n = 129), the second empirical chapter investigated the direct effects of four psychopathy dimensions (Interpersonal Manipulation, Callous Affect, Erratic Lifestyle and Antisocial Behaviour), exposure to violence, relationship status, age, gender, and type of data (prisoners vs. non-prisoners) on rape myth acceptance. A model of rape myth acceptance was estimated and assessed in AMOS, using structural equation modelling. Results indicated that Callous Affect and childhood exposure to violence had a significant positive effect on attitudes towards rape. The aim of the third empirical chapter was to extend the findings of the earlier study by including additional psychological variables into the earlier specified model of rape myth acceptance. The study considered the role of psychopathy, aggression, and adverse childhood experiences in rape myth acceptance using a sample of prisoners (n = 98) and non-prisoners (n = 98). This research employed a quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching in order to control for selection bias. Post-matching regression results indicated that maternal anxious and avoidant attachment, Callous Affect, and aggression were significant predictors of rape myth acceptance

Emotion regulation difficulties and psychopathology among Pakistani adolescents

The main aim of this study was to examine the associations between emotion dysregulation and psychopathology in adolescence. A representative sample of 1500 adolescent students (50% female) aged 12 to 19 years (M = 15.08, SD = 1.44) was recruited from schools and colleges located in the province of district Punjab, Pakistan, using a stratified sampling technique. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test associations between five dimensions of emotion regulation difficulties and five forms of psychopathology by gender (male/female). The model provided an adequate fit to the data among girls and boys. In the model tested among boys, seven positive associations between emotion regulation difficulties and psychopathology variables were found. The model tested with girls included one negative and 13 positive associations between the study variables. Findings can be used for designing universal prevention programs to prevent the development of psychopathology

Resonant problem for a class of BVPs on the half-line

We provide an existence result for a Neumann nonlinear boundary value problem posed on the half-line. Our main tool is the multi-valued version of the Miranda Theorem

The role of psychopathy factors in reactive aggression within a sample of prisoners

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of four psychopathy factors (Interpersonal Manipulation (IPM), Callous Affect (CA), Erratic Lifestyle (ELS), and Antisocial Behaviour (ASB)) and the length of incarceration in reactive aggression. The predictive effect of dissatisfaction with peer relations, childhood experiences of violence, and criminal friends on reactive forms of aggressive acts is also explored. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 129 (n=129) male prisoners incarcerated in Stargard Szczecinski Prison were recruited for the study. Cross-sectional design using self-report questionnaire of retrospective and prospective nature was utilised. Findings – Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that only one psychopathy facet, IPM, forms a significant association with reactive aggression. Another accurate correlate of reactive aggression was the length of incarceration. Originality/value – The results of the present study indicate that the commonly suggested two-factor models of psychopathy may be misguided. Future studies examining the effect of psychopathy facets on aggression should consider IPM and CA as separate dimensions. Additionally, this study is the first to demonstrate that reactive aggression may be exacerbated during incarceration

Self-esteem in adult prison population: The development and Validation of Self-Esteem Measure for Prisoners (SEM-P)

The main aim of the current study was to develop and validate the Self-Esteem Measure for Prisoners (SEM-P), composed of personal and prison self-esteem, among a systematically selected sample of prisoners (N = 1,794). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the SEM-P was best captured with the bifactor conceptualization reflecting two grouping factors (personal and prison self-esteem) and one general factor. Although factor loadings were stronger for the general factor, the two grouping factors evidenced good differential predictive validity. The SEM-P is a reliable and valid measure of self-esteem among inmates because it considers the importance of prison culture for self-evaluations

The Integrated Psychosocial Model of Criminal Social Identity (IPM-CSI)

The integrated psychosocial model of criminal social identity attempts to synthesize, distil, and extend our knowledge and understanding of why people develop criminal social identity, with a particular focus on the psychological and social factors involved. We suggest that the development of criminal social identity results from a complex interplay of four important groups of psychosocial factors: (1) an identity crisis which results in weak bonds with society, peer rejection, and is associated with poor parental attachment and supervision; (2) exposure to a criminal/antisocial environment in the form of associations with criminal friends before, during, and/or after incarceration; (3) a need for identification with a criminal group in order to protect one’s self-esteem; and (4) the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship between criminal/antisocial environment and the development of criminal social identity. The model produces testable hypotheses and points to potential opportunities for intervention and prevention. Directions for future research are discussed

Gender differences in the correlates of academic achievement among university students

Purpose: Prior research has highlighted gender differences in academic motivational attributes, and how these predict academic achievement for each gender, however, a vast amount of inconsistency exists amongst such literature. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive value of academic motivation (achievement goal, leaning goal, performance goal, self-efficacy, and active learning strategies) and study time in explaining academic achievement amongst male and female students. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional survey design was applied. Participants were sampled opportunistically, and consisted of final year undergraduate students, including both males (n = 126) and females (n = 189) attending various courses at a UK university. Findings: Multiple regression analysis carried out for each gender revealed that study time, active learning strategies, performance goal, and self-efficacy were significant predictors of achievement for males, whereas self-efficacy was the only significant predictor of achievement for females. Originality/value: These findings offer practical implications in terms of methods employed by educators to enhance academic achievement. Such implications highlight the importance of the development of self-efficacy in both genders and propose methods in which universities can enhance motivation in male and female students. Recommendations for future research are also made