This study explores the relationships between criminal self-efficacy and recidivism.
The aim of this study was to re-validate one measure of criminal self-efficacy by re-testing its ability to predict recidivism. The researchers used Criminal Self-efficacy Scale-15 scores from 353 people on community corrections orders measured up to three times. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed three latent factors that the researchers called criminal connections, physical violence, and criminal expertise. Cox regression survival analysis demonstrated that only physical violence scores predicted recidivism. The three factors provide a meaningful conceptual basis for future attempts to develop measures of criminal self-efficacy that improve on the limitations of current measures. More broadly, there is a need to understand how specific antisocial beliefs such as criminal self-efficacy are related to criminal behavior. Criminal self-efficacy, an antisocial belief representing positive appraisal of one's capabilities to enact crime, is theorized to drive criminal behavior, but few measures exist. (Published Abstract Provided)