One hundred ninety-four inmates responded to a measure
that taps Erikson's fifth stage of psychosocial development,
dealing with the issues of identity. Information concerning
previous and current criminal activity, along with basic
demographic information, was also collected. Cross-checks
conducted on selected information within the Utah State
Department of Correction's computer system suggest validity
for inmate self-reports. The criminal behavior questions
were addressed in two main sections: previous and current
criminal behavior.
Results illustrate consistent relationships that exist
between criminal behavior and cognitive identity style (the
corollary to Marcia's identity statuses). The identity
styles represent the process involved with personal decision
making and problem solving. Individuals with the style
labeled "Information orientation" thoroughly consider
relevant information before decisions and commitments are
made; those with a "Normative orientation" are primarily
concerned with the expectations of significant others; and
those with a "Diffuse/Avoidant orientation" procrastinate
and fail to resolve confronting problems.
Findings suggest that previous criminal behavior was
related to cognitive identity style; current criminal
behavior was not. Specifically, Diffuse/Avoidant
individuals are more likely to engage in substance use at a
younger age than their criminal peers, get arrested younger,
be involved in multiple arrests and convictions, have spent
a longer time in prison and/or jail, and to have previous
and current property convictions.
Inmates with a Normative style tend to use substances
at an older age than their criminal cohorts, are about four
years older at first arrest, have fewer arrests and
convictions, spend less time incarcerated, and are more
likely to have had a previous and current drug offense.
Information-oriented individuals tend to straddle these
extremes on most variables and show no profound trends in
the data. Discrimination between Diffuse/Avoidant and
Normative individuals has been found previously in substance
use research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UTAHS/oai:digitalcommons.usu.edu:etd-3061 |
| Date | 01 May 1994 |
| Creators | White, Joseph M. |
| Publisher | DigitalCommons@USU |
| Source Sets | Utah State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | All Graduate Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright for this work is held by the author. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information contact Andrew Wesolek (andrew.wesolek@usu.edu). |
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