Gender Differences in the Measurement of Criminal Thinking

Abstract

Despite the importance of criminal thinking to the etiology of crime, studies disagree on whether there are gender differences in criminal thinking and whether females exhibit criminal thinking to the same degree as males. Part of the differences across studies may be due to gender differences in the measurement of criminal thinking, yet this question has not been systematically examined. The current study assesses whether the measurement of criminal thinking (via measurement invariance tests of the Criminogenic Cognition Scales and the Criminal Sentiments Scale–Modified) varies between male and female probationers. The results highlight both similarities and differences in the measurement of criminal thinking, with 26% of items significantly varying between genders. Once measurement differences and similarities were taken into account, male and female probationers were just as likely to exhibit antisocial attitudes. The implications highlight the notion that researchers cannot assume that criminal thinking assessments are gender-neutral.