Role-Taking and Recidivism: A Test of Differential Social Control Theory

To assess the generality of differential social control (DSC) theory, this study examines whether the core propositions of DSC could explain recidivism among a sample of adult offenders. Overall, the results do not lend support for DSC\u27s ability to account for offenders\u27 persistence in crime. Specifically, the results reveal that only two of the five measures of role-taking, antisocial attitudes and number of prior arrests, are consistent significant predictors of recidivism. The results also indicate that measures of role-commitment are not generally related to recidivism and as a consequence, the hypothesized mediating effects of role-taking on the relationship between role-commitment and recidivism by DSC are not supported. The results also show that with the exception of age, social location measures generally are not related to recidivism and thus, definite statements on the mediating effects of DSC\u27s central concepts on this relationship could not be drawn

The influence of interpersonal competence on personal vulnerability of persons with mental retardation

Four factors in Sparks's model of victim proneness were tested among 31 persons with mental retardation who were victims of a personal offense and 32 nonvictims with mental retardation. Factors were operationalized in terms of measures of anger, antisocial tendencies, eccentricities and odd mannerisms, interpersonal competence, recreational outings, and communication skills. Forty participants also responded to hypothetical scenarios depicting everyday situations commonly encountered. Results showed that victims were significantly more likely than nonvictims to report a hostile outlook and that they would display overt anger and aggression in a wide range of situations. Victims' responses to hypothetical scenarios were more likely to be confrontative or abusive to an initial approach by the perpetrator, whereas nonvictims were more likely to withdraw quietly. These indices of poorer interpersonal competence were independent from IQ and adaptive behavior. </jats:p