Who do you think you are? An initial investigation of ego identity development and criminogenic thinking among incarcerated offenders
| Pages | 102-113 |
| Date | 01 August 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-04-2016-0013 |
| Published date | 01 August 2016 |
| Author | David W. Gavel,Jon T. Mandracchia |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Who do you think you are? An initial
investigation of ego identity development
and criminogenic thinking among
incarcerated offenders
David W. Gavel and Jon T. Mandracchia
David W. Gavel is a
Pre-Doctoral Intern at the
University of Southern
Mississippi, Hattiesburg,
Mississippi, USA.
Jon T. Mandracchia is an
Assistant Professor of
Psychology at Missouri
Western State University, Saint
Joseph, Missouri, USA.
Abstract
Purpose –Criminogenic thinking refers to patterns of specific cognitive events associated with criminal
behavior that facilitate the development and maintenance of patterned criminal behavior. Relatively little is
known about the specific processes involved in the development of criminogenic thinking. Therefore, the
purpose of this paper is to examine ego identity development and criminal associations as two possible
predictors of criminogenic thinking.
Design/methodology/approach –Participants included 104 adult male state penitentiary inmates.
Participants completed measures assessing ego identity status, criminogenic thinking, and the amount of
time spent in the presence with other offers. Data were analyzed with a series of hierarchical regressions.
Findings –Results indicated that active engagement in the psychosocial process of identity development is
associated with decreased criminogenic thinking. However, interaction with criminal associates and
incarceration prior to the age of 18 were significant predictors of criminogenic thinking, regardless of identity
development style. Implications for correctional mental health and offender rehabilitation are discussed.
Originality/value –As this is the first study of its’kind and limitations are to be expected, there are several
potential implications for correctional mental health and offender rehabilitation that are discussed.
Keywords Identity, Risk, Development, Assessment, Cognition, Criminogenic
Paper type Research paper
The United States Bureau of Justice Statistics reported the admission of more than 703,000
inmates to state and federally operated correctional facilities in 2010 (Guerino et al. 2011). More
than half of these inmates were admitted due to criminal violations of supervised release, parole
violations, or new crimes committed by previously incarcerated individuals (Guerino et al., 2011).
This type of criminal behavior is classified as recidivism: criminal behavior by a released offender
leading to rearrest or reconviction. In a comprehensive longitudinal study of recidivism, Durose
et al. (2014) reported that more than 67 percent of offenders released in 2005 were rearrested on
felony or serious misdemeanor charges within three years of release and more than 76 percent
were arrested for a new crime within five years. Nearly 50 percent of these arrests led to
reconviction of new crimes (Durose et al., 2014). Given the prevalence of recidivism in the
American criminal justice system, continued research is important to the advanced
understanding of the factors associated with criminal reoffending.
Since its introduction nearly 50 years ago, the cognitive model (Beck, 1976) has maintained its
place as a leading theory of maladaptive behavior. In particular, cognitive theory explains that
Received 1 April 2016
Revised 17 July 2016
Accepted 18 July 2016
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JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
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VOL. 6 NO. 3 2016, pp. 102-113, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/JCP-04-2016-0013
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