Abstract
Previous studies suggested a significant interaction between criminal attitudes, associations with criminal friends, and criminal behaviour. The purpose of the current investigation was to provide the possible mediating role of associations with criminal friends between criminal attitudes, and criminal behaviour. Based on a sample of 133 violent offenders, the proposed mediation model tested was found to be a good fit of the observed data, with each of the respective fit indices exceeding the criteria for a good fitting model. Thus results suggest that the presence and influence of criminal friends has a significant mediating effect on the interaction between criminal attitudes and recidivistic behaviour. Further implications in relation to research and theory are discussed.
Highlights
Based on a sample of 133 violent offenders, the proposed mediation model tested was found to be a good fit of the observed data, with each of the respective fit indices exceeding the criteria for a good fitting model
Social learning theories which have had the most impact on criminology (Akers, Krohn, Lanze-Kaduce, & Radosevich, 1979), believe that criminality is a function of individual socialization, how individuals have been influenced by their experiences or relationships with family, peer groups, teachers, church, authority figures, and other agents of socialization
The primary objective of this research project was to further elucidate the relationship between criminal attitudes, criminal friends, and criminal behaviour using a sample of Polish prisoners
Summary
It is proposed that through associations with other people who hold favourable attitudes towards crime, individuals adopt these attitudes and learn how to commit acts of criminality. Factors crucial in this process include with whom the individual associates, the length, frequency, and personal meaningfulness of such associations, and how early in the individual’s development such associations were formed. As a consequence of differential reinforcement, they learn how to reap the rewards and avoid the penalties of criminal behaviour by reference to the actual or anticipated consequences of such behaviours This theory tends to fit well into. Europe’s Journal of Psychology criminology because it explains the decision making process involved in developing the motivation, attitudes, and techniques necessary to commit crime (Akers et al, 1979)
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