Jorge Sobral

The Self-Control Construct in the General Theory of Crime: An Investigation in Terms of Personality Psychology

The general theory of crime has been one of the most influential contributions to criminology of the last decade. Since its formulation, a number of self-report scales have been developed for assessing self-control, the central construct of the theory. The present study collected data from a sample of Spanish university students and another of Spanish adolescents, with the aim of investigating (1) the components of self-control evaluated by the different scales, (2) relationships between the components of self-control and antisocial behavior, (3) the relationship between the components of self-control and the factors and facets of the Five-Factor Model of personality. Our results indicate that self-control, as evaluated by self-report scales, comprises five components, which show differing relationships with antisocial behavior and personality factors. At the most fundamental level, self-control appears to correspond to constructs that are well known in personality psychology, and indeed insights drawn from this field may prove useful for understanding the nature and origins of self-control.

Personality and antisocial behaviour: study of temperamental dimensions

Abstract Personality variables have been considered as major determinants of delinquent behaviour in various theoretical models and numerous empirical studies. Particular attention has been paid to “temperament” variables, which are considered to have a biological basis. In the present study, we examined relationships between self-reported antisocial behaviour and a number of temperament variables (extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, impulsivity, sensation seeking) in three subject groups: 435 school-attending male adolescents, 529 school-attending female adolescents, and 95 institutionalized delinquent male adolescents. This study design, unlike that of most previous studies of this type, allowed control for the factor of institutionalization, and included a longitudinal analysis, in that questionnaires were administered to the school-attending subjects twice with a 1-year interval. The results confirm that several temperament variables, characterized by high sensitivity to reward and/or weak response to punishment signals, are closely associated with antisocial behaviour. Our findings suggest that personality variables should be included in criminological models, and taken into account in intervention programs.

Predictors of anxiety towards computers

Abstract The relations between anxiety towards computers and the variables: trait anxiety, anxiety towards mathematics, perceived impact of computers on society and experience in using computers were studied in a sample of 162 university students (81 women and 81 men). All these variables are found to influence anxiety towards computers, in which a significant difference was also found by sex.

Values and antisocial behavior among Spanish adolescents.

Abstract A number of studies have indicated that delinquent adolescents have characteristic value systems. However, most of these studies have adopted a “known-groups” design—that is, they have compared institutionalized delinquents and non-institutionalized adolescents, assuming those adolescents to be non-delinquent. Designs of this type do not distinguish effectively between the statistical effects of delinquency and of institutionalization. In this study, the authors investigated relationships between values and self-reported antisocial behavior in three adolescent groups: 435 school-attending boys, 529 school-attending girls, and 95 delinquent boys in juvenile rehabilitation centers or prisons. The results indicate that antisocial behavior is associated with hedonistic values and a lack of interest in conventional values and social values. These relationships cannot be explained by the institutionalization effects.

Potential determinants of drink driving in young adults.

Objective: The main purposes of this study were to examine the usefulness of the variables of the theory of planned behavior (viz. attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy) and to explore the relationship between optimism bias and drink driving in young adults. In addition, we explored gender differences in drink driving with provision for the effect of variables such as driving frequency and alcohol consumption. Methods: Data were collected via a questionnaire administered to 274 drivers (59.9% females) aged 18–30 years (24.36 ± 2.96). Results: The results obtained with provision for driving frequency revealed substantial differences in driving behaviors between genders. Thus, males were more prone to drink driving, perceived less disapproval by their significant others (parents and peers), and felt less able to avoid drinking-and-driving situations. In addition, they self-reported more frequent alcohol consumption and driving under the influence. The results also confirm the significance of peers’ subjective norms and attitudes to drink driving in males. Overconfidence in their own driving skills for driving drunk and perceived behavioral control were found to be significant predictors for drink driving in females. Optimism bias also played a slightly significant role in predicting drink driving but only in females. Conclusions: The important practical implications of these results with a view to designing effective interventions to prevent the risks associated with drink driving in the young population are discussed. Interventions should focus on young peoples perceptions of group norms and promoting cautionary driving choices and alternatives to drink driving.

Interactive effects of personality and separation as acculturation style on adolescent antisocial behaviour

The primary aim of this study was to assess the interaction between personality and acculturation variables in predicting antisocial behaviour among adolescent immigrants living in Spain. Previous studies have shown that the acculturation style referred to as separation (rejection of the host countrys culture, and a strong desire to preserve the culture of the country of origin) was strongly related to antisocial behaviour among immigrants. A further aim of this study was to examine if the relationship between separation and antisocial behaviour was moderated by personality variables, in particular impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and personal competence. Self-reported data of a sample of 750 adolescent immigrants living in Galicias and Madrids regions (Spain) were gathered using previously validated scales. The results revealed that both separation and personality variables were significantly related to antisocial behaviour. Moreover, hierarchical regression analysis with the interaction terms entered found significant moderating effects i.e., the relationship between separation and antisocial behaviour was significantly amplified when impulsivity or sensation-seeking were high. The results underscore the need to examine the effects of personality, acculturation, and the interaction between both on antisocial behaviour among adolescent immigrants.

Construcción estadística de perfiles predictores de sesgo en la formación de juicios

ResumenA lo largo de la literatura sobre la toma de decisiones de los jurados y la incidencia en la misma de variables psicologicas se habian obtenido resultados muy inconsistentes. En otras palabras, mientras unos autores hallaban que determinada variable psicologica o sociodemografica predecia sesgos en la decision de los jurados, otros encontraban todo lo contrario. Nosotros entendemos que esta inconsistencia en los datos se debe a las diferencias existentes entre estudios en los casos manejados y la cantidad de evidencia presentada. En consecuencia, intentamos construir a traves de tecnicas estadisticas perfiles de variables predictores de veredictos. El metodo usado consistio en presentar cuatro casos judiciales distintos y con una evidencia minima que pusiera de manifiesto, en su caso, tendencias de juicio a un nivel muy basico. Con este diseno encontramos dos grupos de perfiles predictores de veredicto, en interaccion con el tipo de caso: perfil atribucional e ideologico. Finalmente discutimos las ...

Assessing psychopathy in young people: the validity of the Psychopathic Checklist: Youth Version for a sample of Spanish offenders

In this study, we assessed the validity of the Psychopathic Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) in a Spanish sample of juvenile court-involved youths. Although recent Anglo-Saxon literature on the topic supports the usefulness of psychopathic traits in adolescent offenders for predicting recidivism and future violence, little is still known about their predictive ability for other cultures. The results of this study suggest that the PCL:YV possesses adequate concurrent criterion-related validity (by using self-reported version of Antisocial Process Screening Device) and retrospective validity (particularly as regards the antisocial, but also the affective–interpersonal domain). Specifically, retrospective validity was confirmed by positive correlations with history of truancy at school, poor parenting, parental delinquency, self-reported antisocial behaviour and illicit behaviour patterns including violent offences recorded in official files; however, careful analysis revealed that the Lifestyle and Antisocial factors are the main dimensions related to past offences, whether violent or otherwise. In conclusion, the PCL:YV is a convenient instrument for assessing psychopathy, and, hence, the risk of criminality, in youths.

Gender Differences in Youth Substance Use: The Effects of Parenting Through a Deviant Peer Group

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to analyze the effects of parental knowledge, parental support, and family conflict through the affiliation with deviant peers on youth substance use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit substances), as well as unhealthy and antisocial behavior derived from substance consumption. A Spanish community sample was used and gender differences were taken into account. The sample was composed of 584 secondary school students ages 14 to 20, 46.9% of whom were male. The results of structural equation modeling indicate that the affiliation with deviant peers was the factor most directly related to the dependent variables. The results also indicate that family factors influence the dependent variables indirectly and significantly through the mediation of a deviant peer group. Finally, some gender differences were found. Conclusively, substance use prevention programs should be based on managing peer exposure and carried out under a gender-sensitive approach.

Gender Differences in the Influence of Parenting on Youth Antisocial Behavior through Deviant Peers

The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in direct and indirect effects of parental knowledge, family support, family conflict, and deviant peers on violent and nonviolent antisocial behavior among youngsters. The total sample was composed of 584 young people, 274 males and 310 females, aged 14 to 20 from High Schools of Galicia (NW Spain). The variables were assessed with different scales of the protocol Valoración del Riesgo en Adolescentes Infractores [Juvenile Offenders Risk Assessment]. Several structural equation models were conducted to clarify the relationships between these variables for males and females. The results showed a better fit for the mediated model. Significant direct effects were found for parental knowledge (β = -.35, p < .01, males; β = -.16, p < .05, females) and parental support (β = .26, p < .05, males) on nonviolent behavior. Significant direct effects were also found for parental knowledge (β = -.36, p < .05, males; β = -.42, p < .05, females) and parental support (β = .32, p < .05, males; β = .24, p < .05, females) on violent behavior. Not significant direct effects were found for family conflict. Moreover, significant indirect effects through deviant peers were found for knowledge (β = -.23, p < .01, males; β = -.21, p < .01, females), support (β = .20, p < .05, males; β = .21, p < .05, females), and conflict (β = .28, p < .01, males; β = .26, p < .05, females) on nonviolent behavior, as well as for knowledge (β = -.20, p < .01, males; β = -.10, p < .01, females), support (β = .18, p < .01, males; β = .10, p < .01, females), and conflict (β = .24, p < .05, males; β = .12, p < .01, females) on violent behavior. Thus, significant gender differences were found, specifically in the direct effects of family support on nonviolent antisocial behavior. The implications of these results for prevention of antisocial behaviors in youth based on gender differences are discussed.