NCJ Number
226960
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 307-321
Date Published
March 2009
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the possible interaction between impulsivity and neighborhoods by exploring different types of impulsivity-related traits, perceptions of neighborhood informal social control, and their interaction among young women and men.
Abstract
Results of the study indicate that thrill and adventure seeking, among men, and lack of premeditation, among men and women, exert stronger influences on offending among those who live in neighborhoods low in perceived supervision. Substantial evidence indicates that impulsivity was a robust correlate of offending. However, its effects appear to be partially contingent upon other criminological factors, such as neighborhood context. Studies on the moderating influence of neighborhoods on the impulsivity-offending relationship have produced inconsistent findings. In an effort to provide the field with greater clarity, this analysis replicated and extended previous efforts in several areas: (1) it examined different dimensions of impulsivity, (2) conceptualized neighborhoods from the unique perspective of the individual-level perceptions of the participants, and (3) examined young adults and the role of multiple variants of impulsivity, neighborhood perceptions, and their interactive effects on offending among young men and women. The sample in this study included 1,002 participants who completed a portion of the Lexington Longitudinal Study. Tables, figures, and references