Deviant Behaviour Deviant Behaviour Amongst Adolescent Amongst Adolescent

YouthYouth

An analysis using the An analysis using the Theory of Planned BehaviourTheory of Planned Behaviour

Grace SkrzypiecGrace SkrzypiecOctober 2005October 2005

The Research The Research QuestionQuestion

Can the Theory of Planned Can the Theory of Planned Behaviour advance our Behaviour advance our

understanding of why some understanding of why some juveniles engage in criminal juveniles engage in criminal acts while others do not?acts while others do not?

The Research The Research QuestionQuestion

Bridges the disciplines of Bridges the disciplines of Psychology and Psychology and

Criminology:Criminology:The Theory of Planned

Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991)

with prominent theories of crime

The Theory of Planned The Theory of Planned BehaviourBehaviour

Background factors

IndividualPersonality, Mood, Emotion, Intelligence, Values, Stereotypes, General Attitudes, Experience

SocialEducation, Age, Gender, Income, Religion, Race, Ethnicity, Culture

InformationKnowledge, Media, Intervention

Behavioural Beliefs

Attitude toward

Behaviour

Normative Beliefs

Subjective Norm

Control Beliefs

Perceived Behavioural

Control

Intention Behaviour

Actual Behavioural

Control

Crime TheoriesCrime Theories

Big Three:Big Three:

Control Differential Association Strain theories

As well as:As well as:

Routine Activity Rational Choice

Multi-theory Multi-theory ComparisonsComparisons

Agnew (1995) compared Agnew (1995) compared leading theories leading theories of crime of crime

Crime theories can be distinguished along Crime theories can be distinguished along four dimensionsfour dimensions::

independent variables;independent variables; dependent variables;dependent variables; conditioning or structuring variables; conditioning or structuring variables;

andand motivational processes.motivational processes.

Motivational ProcessesMotivational Processes

the moral evaluation of crime;the moral evaluation of crime;

the rational evaluation of crime; the rational evaluation of crime;

one’s level of negative affect; one’s level of negative affect;

andand

one’s level of “freedom”.one’s level of “freedom”.

Moral Evaluation of Moral Evaluation of CrimeCrime

An individual’s evaluation of the An individual’s evaluation of the crimecrime which which involves two separate involves two separate concepts:concepts:

moral evaluation of the crime, andmoral evaluation of the crime, and

moral pressure experienced by the moral pressure experienced by the individualindividual

Moral Evaluation of the Moral Evaluation of the CrimeCrime

favourable and unfavourable favourable and unfavourable “definitions” of crime“definitions” of crime

charged evaluations constitute charged evaluations constitute variables of variables of attitudeattitude

ThereforeTherefore

moral evaluationsmoral evaluations ≡ ≡ moral moral attitudesattitudes. .

Moral PressureMoral Pressure

is the pressure exerted by an is the pressure exerted by an individual’s beliefs to individual’s beliefs to commission or not commission a commission or not commission a crimecrime

ThereforeTherefore

moral pressuremoral pressure ≡ ≡ moral moral normsnorms

The Rational Evaluation The Rational Evaluation of Crimeof Crime

the likelihood that one’s crime will be the likelihood that one’s crime will be detected; evoke negative/positive reactions detected; evoke negative/positive reactions from others; arouse positive/negative from others; arouse positive/negative feelings within themselves; and bring on feelings within themselves; and bring on other positive/negative effects due to the other positive/negative effects due to the commission of the crimecommission of the crime

attitudesattitudes

≡≡ self-efficacy (perceived behavioural self-efficacy (perceived behavioural control)control)

subjective normssubjective norms

Negative EffectNegative Effect an emotionally based concept said to be an emotionally based concept said to be

generated by “strain” or negative generated by “strain” or negative treatment by otherstreatment by others

generally involves emotions of frustration generally involves emotions of frustration and angerand anger

Ajzen and Fishbein (2005) suggest that Ajzen and Fishbein (2005) suggest that anticipated emotions merely form a subset anticipated emotions merely form a subset of behavioural beliefs and so can be of behavioural beliefs and so can be measured through the corresponding measured through the corresponding attitudesattitudes

FreedomFreedom

derives from control theoryderives from control theory

the independent variables increase the independent variables increase the freedom to engage in crime the freedom to engage in crime rather than increasing self-controlrather than increasing self-control

Self-control measured separately in Self-control measured separately in the studythe study

SummarySummary

The motivational processes The motivational processes identified by Agnew (1995) are those identified by Agnew (1995) are those which lead to the development of which lead to the development of beliefs about criminal behaviour and beliefs about criminal behaviour and which are associated with attitudes, which are associated with attitudes, subjective norms and perceived subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. behavioural control.

The Theory of Planned Behaviour

Crime Theories and TPBCrime Theories and TPB

Past Behaviour

Background factors

IndividualPersonality, Mood, Emotion, Intelligence, Values, Stereotypes, General Attitudes, Experience

SocialEducation, Age, Gender, Income, Religion, Race, Ethnicity, Culture

InformationKnowledge, Media, Intervention

Behavioural Beliefs

Attitude toward

Behaviour

Normative Beliefs

Subjective Norm

Control Beliefs

Perceived Behavioural

Control

Intention Behaviour

Actual Behavioural

Control

Leading Crime Theories

Self-ControlSelf-Control

Higgins and Marcum (2005) found that the Higgins and Marcum (2005) found that the Theory of Planned Behaviour mediated the Theory of Planned Behaviour mediated the effects of low self-control on intended effects of low self-control on intended alcohol consumption. alcohol consumption.

ThereforeTherefore

the role of low self-control with regard to the role of low self-control with regard to the Theory of Planned Behaviour is the Theory of Planned Behaviour is hypothesised to influence attitudes and hypothesised to influence attitudes and beliefs beliefs

Self-Control and TPBSelf-Control and TPB

Back-groun

d factor

s

Self-contro

l

Attitudes

Subjective Norms

Perceived Behavioural Control

Intention

Behaviour

Situational Context Situational Context TheoriesTheories

Is perceived behavioural control Is perceived behavioural control the major driving force for the major driving force for criminal behaviour?criminal behaviour?

Is it sufficient to consider only Is it sufficient to consider only perceived behavioural control as a perceived behavioural control as a determinant of criminal behaviour?determinant of criminal behaviour?

Self-ControlSelf-Control

Is low self-control a determinant of Is low self-control a determinant of criminal behaviour?criminal behaviour?

Is self-control mediated by the Is self-control mediated by the Theory of Planned Behaviour?Theory of Planned Behaviour?

Importance of the Importance of the ResearchResearch

If this research shows that the Theory of If this research shows that the Theory of Planned Behaviour is significant in the Planned Behaviour is significant in the criminal context, then changes in criminal criminal context, then changes in criminal behaviour may be possible through behaviour may be possible through theoretically driven interventions, which theoretically driven interventions, which focus on the personal antecedents of focus on the personal antecedents of behaviour, rather than the management of behaviour, rather than the management of a multitude of variables as suggested by a multitude of variables as suggested by Weatherburn (2001) in his review of the Weatherburn (2001) in his review of the “causes” of crime. “causes” of crime.

MethodologyMethodology

Four StagesFour Stages:: Questionnaire DevelopmentQuestionnaire Development

Pilot of SurveyPilot of Survey

Survey AdministrationSurvey Administration

Statistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

Analysis of DataAnalysis of Data

Structural Equation Modelling Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) techniques will be used to (SEM) techniques will be used to analyse elements in the model and a analyse elements in the model and a conclusion will be reached about the conclusion will be reached about the key aspects of the Theory of Planned key aspects of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and its relevance in Behaviour and its relevance in criminologycriminology..

Structural Equation Structural Equation ModellingModelling

• Confirmatory Technique

– used most often to test a theory

• Allows relationships between variables

• Allows estimations of error

How it works:

• Relationships in the model are directly translated into equations.

• This model produces a set of parameters which are used to estimate a population covariance matrix.

• This matrix is compared to the sample covariance matrix.

• If the model is correct the difference is small and not statistically significant.

Structural Equation Structural Equation ModellingModelling

Attitudes

Moral Norms

SubjectiveNorms

Self-Efficacy

PerceivedBehavioural

Control

Intention Behaviour

Model 1 - to be testedModel 1 - to be tested

Self-Control

Temper

1

1

SelfCentred

1

PhysicalActivity

1

RiskSeeking

1

SimpleTasks

1

Impuls-iveness

1 Attitudes

Moral Norms

SubjectiveNorms

Self-Efficacy

PerceivedBehavioural

Control

Intention Behaviour

Model 2 - to be testedModel 2 - to be tested

SelfControl

Moral Norms

Subjective Norms

Attitudes

Self-Efficacy

Perceived Behavioural

Control

Intention

Behaviour

Model 3 - to be testedModel 3 - to be tested