Predicting Offenders’ Criminogenic Cognitions With Status Variables

Abstract

Certain thinking styles promote criminal behavior, and these criminogenic cognitions are not engaged in equally by all offenders. It is imperative to know which offenders are engaging in more criminogenic thinking so their problematic thinking can be targeted and altered during correctional treatment programming. In doing so, correctional mental health professionals may help reduce recidivism. In the current investigation, the researchers sought to identify offenders most likely to engage in criminogenic cognitions on the basis of status variables (i.e., demographic, incarceration, and mental health variables) using data from 595 adult male incarcerated offenders. Findings indicate that younger offenders, less educated offenders, Black and Hispanic offenders, single (i.e., not in a relationship) offenders, offenders without a violent index offense, offenders with a psychological disorder, and offenders not participating in mental health services all endorsed higher levels of some types of criminogenic cognitions. These findings have important implications for correctional mental health care practice toward criminal recidivism reduction.

Offending competency and coercive control in intimate partner violence

“…For example, a recent analysis of criminal thinking styles among a sample of 595 non-IPV adult incarcerated offenders (Mandracchia & Morgan, 2012) found that being single (compared to being in a relationship) was associated with higher levels of controlrelated maladaptive thinking. Although they did not consider offense pathways directly, it is possible to link these types of thinking style with the typologies described above.…”

An item response theory analysis of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles: Comparing male and female probationers and prisoners.

“…Among the factors responsible for the growing popularity of criminal thinking in corrections as well as in the criminal justice field overall is its relevance to classifi cation, prediction, and intervention. There is evidence, for in stance, that criminal thinking, in conjunction with certain status (demographic, incarceration, and mental health) variables, can be useful in classifying offenders for both treatment and management purposes (Mandracchia & Morgan, 2012). Moreover, a recent meta-analysis found that general criminal thinking (GCT) success fully predicted recidivism above and beyond the contributions of age and criminal history (Walters, 2012).…”

Comparative Analysis of Attitudes and Emotions Among Inmates

“…Age has been predictive of criminal thinking in some studies (Mandracchia & Morgan, 2012;Palmer & Hollin, 2003;Walters, 2003;Walters, Frederick, & Schlauch, 2007) but not in others Walters & Schlauch, 2008). Race also has been used to predict criminal thinking, but produced mixed results.…”