Developmental Trajectories Of Nonsocial Reinforcement And Delinquency In Adolescence: An Exploratory Study Of An Understudied Part Of Social Learning Theory

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Cathy Marcum, Associate Professor and Curriculum Coordinator (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: Within social learning theory, nonsocial reinforcement has been hypothesized to have a link with offending. The purpose of the present study was to address two questions: (1) Does nonsocial reinforcement change or remain stable over time? And (2) does nonsocial reinforcement have a reciprocal link with offending, as Wood et al. (1997) would expect? Methods: We used a subsample (N = 413) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) data and semi-parametric group-based modeling (SPGM). Results and Conclusions: The SPGM suggested three distinct groups of nonsocial reinforcement (one trajectory group appeared to have a low but stable rate of nonsocial reinforcement, one trajectory appeared to be higher but stable, another trajectory higher but also stable). A cross-tabulation of the nonsocial reinforcement trajectories and offending trajectories indicated that offending increased as nonsocial reinforcement became greater. Study limitations and implications are also discussed.

Additional Information

Publication
Higgins, G. E., Jennings, W. G., Marcum, C. D., Ricketts, M. L., & Mahoney, M. (2011). Developmental trajectories of nonsocial reinforcement and delinquency in adolescence: An exploratory study of an understudied part of social learning theory. Journal of Criminal Justice, 39(1): 60-66. Published by Elsevier (ISSN: 0047-2352).
Language: English
Date: 2011

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