Maturing out of delinquency

Unpacking the effects of identity achievement and future orientation on crime desistance

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15411396
AutoresGlenn D Walters (0000-0002-7219-1542, Kutztown University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2018
Volumen18
Número3
Páginas267-283
Fecha de publicación2018-02-16
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSelf and Identity (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1529-8868 • E-ISSN: 1529-8876
EditorialTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15298868.2018.1439848
OpenAlexW2793274081
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas55

The current investigation sought to determine whether identity achievement and future orientation had a bearing on desistance from crime. Participants were the 1,354 members of the Pathways to Desistance study. To test the hypothesis that identity achievement would precede future orientation in encouraging desistance from serious delinquency identity achievement and future orientation were cross-lagged at ages 20 and 21 and regressed onto total offending at age 22. Consistent with predictions, the pathway running from identity achievement at age 20 to future orientation at age 21 to offending at age 22 was significant and the pathway running from future orientation at age 20 to identity achievement at age 21 to offending at age 22 was non-significant. Study site, sex, race, and ethnicity failed to moderate these results. Findings from this study indicate that psychosocial maturity plays an important role in encouraging desistance from crime. It would appear that the development of a mature and well integrated social identity can extend an emerging adult’s time horizon while improving his or her decision-making skills, all in the name of improving the person’s odds of desisting from a criminal lifestyle

Criminology · Developmental psychology · Identity (music · Juvenile delinquency · Logistic regression · Odds · Psychosocial · Social group · Social identity theory · Optimism, Hope, and Well-being · Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology