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    Investigating the personality construct of self-control as defined in the General Theory of Crime : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2004) Isaacson, Anja
    Over the decades, "self-control" has generated much theoretical debate and research across the disciplines of human science. Although intuitively understood, the concept of self-control remains slippery as it can he viewed from various perspectives. As a consequence, it has been defined and measured in different ways which are not all consistent with one another. Self-control, or the lack thereof, has been implicated in criminality, psychopathology and various deviant behaviours. The General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) has attracted much interest and continues to be a major influence in understanding crime and deviance. At the core of this theory is the construct of self-control. Although the authors argue that their theory denies the existence of "an enduring criminal disposition", their definition of self-control appears fully compatible with the concept of "trait" as used in personality psychology. However, there have been few attempts to establish explicit connections between personality traits and the self-control construct as defined in the General Theory of Crime. This research investigated the personality construct of self-control as defined in The General Theory of Crime. The sample consisted of 63 faculty staff members and 126 young students located at the Albany, Palmerston North and Wellington campuses of Massey University. Quantitative data were collected via a postal survey questionnaire comprising scales measuring individual differences relating to (a) personality (Francis, Brown & Philipchalk (1992) Abbreviated form of the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), (b) self-control (Grasmick, Tittle, Bursik & Arneklev (1993) Self-Control Scale), (c) imprudent behaviours (an adaptation of Marcus (2003) Retrospective Behavioural Scale), and (d) impulsivity (Dickman (1990) Functional and Dysfunctional Impulsivity Inventory). Results from the present study indicated that incorporating personality variables into a model of self-control explained more of the variance, strengthened the prediction of imprudent behaviours and indicated better goodness –of-fit statistics. Furthermore, the components of self-control, as defined in the general theory of crime, were better explained by the conceptually distinct latent constructs of Dysfunctional and Functional impulsivity. Limitations of this research and recommendations for further research are considered.
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    "You can't leave your life to chance" : transitioning from offending in emerging adults : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Chong, May-Lee A
    There is currently limited very research about how emerging adult’s transition out of crime. This study interviewed nine emerging adults who successfully transitioned out of crime by the age of 25. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. The data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants described their experience of transition as a build-up of distress combined with reasons to stop, shifts in perceptions around offending and their identity, a challenging process that they felt fortunate to have accomplished, a noticeable improvement in their lives and ongoing temptation or thoughts about offending. The results suggested three main findings; that the process of desistance is similar in emerging adults and adult populations, that there could be a universal mechanism of change underlying all behaviour, and that control theories may better explain desistance behaviour than dominant models of behaviour change such as the transtheoretical model of change.
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    Criminal psychology : a critical textual analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Webb, Simon Christopher
    The criminal justice system plays an important role in the reproduction of social power relations, and it embodies an official response to the problem of interpersonal violence. Andrews and Bonta's (2003) The Psychology of Criminal Conduct is an influential text in this setting, informing the Psychological Services of New Zealand's Department of Corrections, and serving as a key text in the training of psychologists for work in this field. The present study is a critical reading of Andrews and Bonta's (2003) text in relation to the problem of violence. This critical reading begins with the development of a theoretical context for analysis. A subsequent analysis of the text focuses on three prominent discursive themes: a construction of the text's rational empiricism, of its advocating for treatment over punishment of offenders, and of the tension between critical and mainstream accounts of psychology in criminal justice settings. The relationship of these themes to discourses of violence is discussed.
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    Causal attributions for criminal offending and sexual arousal of four categories of offenders : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1992) McKay-Lawes, Meryl Margaret; McKay-Lawes, Meryl Margaret
    In recent years there has been an increase in reported crime in New Zealand, and also an increase in public concern about the levels of crime, particularly violent and sexual crimes. The justice system, while imposing more severe penalties for some crimes, is particularly interested in instituting and expanding rehabilitative and social interventions. In that context, a fuller understanding of the causes of crime, and hence the identification of appropriate strategies to reduce crime and recidivism, is imperative. The present research investigated the causal attributions offered by male prison inmates for their offending, and also their causal attributions for their sexual arousal and sexual behaviour. In addition, prison inmates' own perceptions of their personal characteristics and life experiences, and how these cognitions contributed to the initiation of their criminal offending was also studied. Prison inmates who had been convicted of an offence in one of four crime categories were selected from seven prisons in New Zealand. The types of offence studied were child sex offences (children under 16 years), rape (unlawful sexual connection), offences against property, and violent offences against persons. Only offenders' own reasons for their current convictions were assessed, and the focus of this study was the child sex offenders, and their responses were analysed in comparison with those of the three other offender groups. In semi-structured clinical interviews, specially developed instruments (Offence and Sexual Arousal Questionnaires) were administered. The offenders categorised into attributional dimensions both the causes of their offending behaviour, and the causes of their sexual arousal, and of their sexual behaviour. An Individual Response Inventory which included Social Desirability, Sexual Repression, and Lack of Control of Sexual Behaviour scales was administered. A survey of inmates' basic sexual knowledge was also carried out by questionnaire. This scale assessed the offender's knowledge of their own sexuality, and also of female sexuality. Results presented in this study endorse the importance of individual assessments of offenders in order to identify their causal attributions, and thereby the motivation behind their offending. This study provides support for the view that researchers do not necessarily perceive causes as varying along the same dimensions as the person offering the causes, and this may lead to researchers making misleading interpretations of offenders' cognitions. Child sex offenders were differentiated from the other groups by the causes they offered, and the dimensions to which they attributed both their offence behaviour and their sexual arousal. Child sex offenders attributed causes for both their offending and their sexual arousal to internal, stable, and uncontrollable dimensions. Rapists and property offenders attributed their offending behaviour to external, unstable, controllable dimensions, and violent offenders to internal, stable, and uncontrollable dimensions. In contrast to child sex offenders, the other three groups all attributed their sexual arousal and sexual behaviour to external, unstable, and controllable dimensions. Child sex offenders scored lower on the Basic Sexual Knowledge scale, repressed their sexuality more, and reported different sexual fantasies from the other offender groups. Emotional issues featured prominently for all offender groups as causes of their offending. Many offenders in the child sex and violent offender groups viewed these causes as being personal problems, and the offending appeared to be a way of temporarily resolving the problem. In contrast, property offenders and rapists saw their offending as a way of obtaining a pleasurable emotional experience. Child sex offenders frequently viewed internal urges and forces, or children's immature bodies, as the causes of their sexual arousal. This contrasted with all other offender groups' causal attributions. The findings were discussed in terms of their implications in intervention programmes. The results support a new dimension to psychological intervention with criminal offenders, and demonstrate the importance of assessing and addressing offender's own attributions as part of their rehabilitation programmes.
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    Towards a typology of youth sexual harmers in Aotearoa, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Dillon, Stephanie Kim
    Sixty seven characteristics, and demographic and offence data were used to explore patterns of similarity amongst a sample of 195 male youths aged 6-17 years who had been referred for treatment because of their sexually harmful behaviour. The overarching aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of developing a typology of youth sexual harmers in order to enhance assessment and treatment. Archival data were collected from three specialist treatment agencies providing services to nine locations across New Zealand. The characteristics were chosen to highlight a broad range of functioning and incorporated personality traits, social and family factors, education and developmental factors, mental health issues and antisocial behaviour as well as sexual behaviour and prior victimisation. Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to determine whether certain characteristics and youth were similar and whether these similarities indicated clinically relevant profiles of youth were present within the sample. A review of the analysis suggested seven themes of characteristics were present: Sexual Deviancy and Delinquency, Trauma and Neglect, Sexual Abuse and Family Mental Health, Mood Disregulation, Personality and Social Deficits, Developmental Deficits, and Family Aggression and Abuse. A review of the analysis of the youth indicated four profiles of sexually harmful youth in this sample: Depressed Relationship Seeking, Trauma Reactive, Hostile/Versatile, and Controlling/Entitled. Demographic and offence data for each profile indicated within profile similarity, also. The analyses enabled a review of the inter-relationship of multiple characteristics and highlighted the way in which certain characteristics and life experiences can influence behaviour and learning. The results imply an inclusive typology of young sexual harmers is possible and this has implications for the assessment and treatment of these youth. Assessments that can define profiles may enhance treatment planning and delivery.