Bill C. Henry

Temperamental and Familial Predictors of Violent and Nonviolent Criminal Convictions: Age 3 to Age 18.

This study examined the relations between family characteristics, childhood temperament, and convictions for violent and nonviolent offenses at age 18 in a representative birth cohort of men who are part of a longitudinal study. Three groups of men were identified on the basis of their conviction status at age 18: Participants who had never been convicted (n = 404), participants who had been convicted for nonviolent offenses only (n = 50), and participants who had been convicted for violent offenses (n = 21). Multivariate analysis of variance and logistic regression analyses indicated that family factors were associated with both types of conviction outcomes, whereas childhood temperament was associated primarily with convictions for violent offenses. The potentially distinct roles of social- and self-regulation in the development of antisocial behavior are discussed.

The importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in predicting adolescent substance use

The current study assessed the relative importance of conduct problems and depressive symptoms, measured at two ages (11 and 15), for predicting substance use at age 15 in an unselected birth cohort of New Zealand adolescents. Among males, when the relative predictive utility of both conduct problems and depressive symptoms was assessed, only pre-adolescent depressive symptoms were found to predict multiple drug use 4 years later. No predictive relation was found between early symptomatology and later substance use among females. The strongest association between predictors and substance use emerged between age 15 multiple drug use and concurrent conduct problems for both males and females. Finally, both conduct problems and depressive symptoms at age 15 were also found to be associated with concurrent “self-medication” among females.

The Relationship between Animal Cruelty, Delinquency, and Attitudes toward the Treatment of Animals

Previous research has identified a relationship between acts of cruelty to animals other than humans and involvement in other forms of antisocial behavior. The current study sought to extend these findings by examining this relationship among a sample of college students using a self-report delinquency methodology. In addition, the current study explored the relationship between a history of observing or engaging in acts of animal cruelty and attitudes of sensitivity/concern regarding the treatment of nonhuman animals. College students (n = 169) enrolled in an Introduction to Psychology course comprised the sample. Results indicated that those participants who observed acts of animal cruelty and those who participated in acts of animal cruelty had higher scores on a self-report delinquency scale than did those who had never observed or participated in acts of animal cruelty. Observation of acts of animal cruelty interacted with sex to predict attitudes toward the treatment of animals. Observation of animal cruelty and par ticipation in animal cruelty affected delinquency scores independently. The current study discusses implications and directions for future research.

Staying in School Protects Boys with Poor Self-regulation in Childhood from Later Crime: A Longitudinal Study

Based on a theoretical model that emphasises the distinction between individual and contextual determinants of antisocial behaviour, the current study examined whether school attendance throughout adolescence acted as a protective factor for individuals at risk for criminal behaviour in early adulthood. Specifically, Lack of Control, an index of self-regulation which has previously been shown to predict later criminal behaviour, was expected to interact with early school leaving to predict self-reports and official records of criminal behaviour collected at age 21. Multivariate regression analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction between school attendance, self-regulation, and sex. Among males, after controlling for the effects of socioeconomic status and IQ, the main effects for Lack of Control and school attendance were found to be significant; additionally, the interaction between Lack of Control and school attendance was significant, indicating that the strength of the relation between Lack of Control and criminal outcomes was moderated by school attendance. The main effects for Lack of Control and school attendance were significant for females, but the interaction between Lack of Control and school attendance was not significant. The protective effect of school attendance among males could not be accounted for by differences in familial disruption or adolescent delinquency.

Substance use and other health risk behaviors in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVES To (a) determine the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use, and health risk behaviors among a general university population; and (b) compare health risk-taking behaviors between genders, and varsity athletes and their non-athlete peers. DESIGN Descriptive survey of multiple health risk behaviors, including physical, mental health, alcohol and other drug, and sexual risk taking. SETTING Two large midwestern universities. PARTICIPANTS A convenience sample of 86% of 1,210 eligible students (271 athletes and 775 nonathlete peers) completed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire during team meetings or class sessions. INTERVENTION None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Differences between gender and athlete status were assessed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics for the following variables, determined by questionnaire responses: physical risk, mental health, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors. RESULTS Common risk behaviors in the entire collegiate sample included riding in a car with a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, driving and swimming under the influence of alcohol, binge drinking, and low rate of condom use for all types of sexual intercourse. Risk-taking behaviors varied by gender, with men showing more risk behaviors than women, except for suicide and sexual behaviors. Male athletes had a higher prevalence of risk behaviors than their male nonathlete counterparts, in contrast to female athletes, who had fewer risk behaviors than their female nonathlete counterparts. CONCLUSION In contrast to previous studies, results of the present study show, when results are stratified by gender, that not all athletes engage more frequently than nonathletes in high risk behaviors. Results suggest that educational and early intervention strategies to decrease risk may need to be tailored according to gender and athletic status.

Neuropsychological Studies of Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Violence

Preparation of this chapter was supported by USPHS Grants MH-43746 and MH-45070, from the Antisocial and Violent Behavior Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health and by a grant from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School Research Committee.

Empathy, home environment, and attitudes toward animals in relation to animal abuse

Abstract Recent years have seen an increase in interest in the social, behavioral, psychological, and developmental correlates of animal abuse. The current study examined the relationships between empathy, family environment, attitudes toward animals and participation in animal abuse using a self-report methodology among a sample of college students. Within a sample of 286 college students, scores on the Attitudes Toward the Treatment of Animals Scale (ATTAS) were significantly correlated with scores on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a measure of empathy. The Caregiving subscale of the ATTAS was found to significantly differentiate abusers from non-abusers, and to differentiate abusers who reported having first engaged in abuse prior to age 13 years from those who reported having first engaged in abuse at age 13 or later. Abusers scored significantly higher on the IRI Fantasy subscale than did non-abusers. Men who reported a history of sexual abuse were more likely to report participating in animal abuse than were those who reported no history of sexual abuse. Finally, the effect of sexual abuse on animal abuse was found to be independent of individual differences in empathy and attitudes toward animals. The potential roles of trauma and fantasy in the genesis of animal abuse are discussed.

Exposure to animal abuse and group context: two factors affecting participation in animal abuse

Abstract Over the previous three decades, an emerging body of literature has highlighted the significance of animal abuse as an important indicator of disturbed social development. The current study attempted to expand upon previous research by examining two factors associated with participation in animal abuse: age of first exposure to animal abuse and group versus solitary participation in animal abuse. Within a sample of 206 college students, the age at which a participant reported that they were first exposed to animal abuse was an important determinant of the risk associated with that exposure. Those who reported having first observed animal abuse prior to 13 years of age were more likely to have engaged in animal abuse than were those who reported having first observed abuse at 13 years or later. In addition, those who reported having engaged in animal abuse alone on at least one occasion had higher self-reported delinquency scores, and exhibited less sensitivity to the treatment of animals, than those who never engaged in animal abuse. Theoretical and methodological considerations, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.

Bullying and animal abuse: Is there a connection?

In recent years, school violence has become an issue of great concern among psychologists, educators, and law-enforcement officials. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between bullying, victimization, and abuse of nonhuman animals. The study assessed bullying and victimization experiences, animal abuse, and attitudes toward animals within a sample of 185 college males. Results of the study highlighted the important distinction between males involved in single episodes of animal abuse and those involved in multiple episodes of animal abuse. Further, results highlighted the significance of the bully/victim phenomenon with regard to participation in multiple acts of animal abuse. Those who were above the median with regard to both victimization and perpetration of physical bullying exhibited the highest rates of involvement in multiple acts of animal abuse and also exhibited the lowest levels of sensitivity with regard to cruelty-related attitudes pertaining to animals. The study discusses theoretical mechanisms linking bullying and animal abuse as well as directions for future research.

Health Risk Taking and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Risk in Collegiate Female Athletes.

Risky health behaviors of female intercollegiate varsity athletes and their nonathlete peers were compared. Five hundred seventy-one female university students (109 athletes and 462 nonathlete peers) at two midwestern universities completed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire during team meetings or class sessions. Each athlete was matched with two nonathlete controls of similar age, ethnicity, and class year to test for dichotomous outcome variables. A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk scale was developed to identify factors associated with increased HIV risk for all of the female participants. Measures of alcohol and other drug use were associated with HIV risk. The athletes were found to engage in significantly fewer risk-taking behaviors than the nonathletes and to be at less risk for HIV. High levels of risk behaviors generally indicated the need for increased efforts to change risky behaviors in all college women.