Degree Name

MA (Master of Arts)

Program

Criminal Justice

Date of Award

5-2021

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Bradley Edwards

Committee Members

Jennifer Pealer, Nicole Prior

Abstract

The role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and criminal thinking in causing criminal behavior has been explored extensively in criminal justice research. Based on the concepts of ACEs and the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Scale, the negative parental influences and criminal thinking styles of 1,354 juvenile offenders were examined to establish that negative parental influences and criminal thinking are separately associated with juvenile problem and offending behavior, and that criminal thinking mediates the relationship between negative parental influences and juvenile problem and offending behavior. Analyses showed support for criminal thinking as a pathway from negative parental influences to juvenile problem and offending behavior. Focuses for juvenile offender intervention programs are suggested.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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