social bonds, identity, and violence

Emily K. Asencio – University of AkronTia E. Kim – Penn State Brandywine

Kirk R. Williams – University of California, Riverside

Studies demonstrate a clear connection between social bonds and refraining from delinquency and crime (Laub and Sampson 1993; Laub and Sampson 2003)

Additional work, though minimal, demonstrates a connection between an individual’s cognitive and emotional characteristics (Giordano, Cernkovich, and Rudolph 2002; Giordano, Schroeder, and Cernkovich 2007)

Recent studies demonstrate that a combination of bonds and individual characteristics known as “core competencies” provides a more comprehensive explanation for problem behavioral outcomes. (Guerra and Bradshaw 2008; Kim, Guerra, and Williams 2008).

Do competency indicators predict… persistence of violent behavior into

adulthood? starting violent behavior in adulthood?

Are there gender differences in these relations?

11,610 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health)

Add Health Data set is nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7 to 12, conducted in mid-1990s

Current study used data from three waves Wave I – 1995 Wave II - 1996 Wave III – 2001-2002

Competency Indicators Self-esteem: 6-item scale (e.g. “you like

yourself the way you are”) Positive affect: 10-item scale (e.g. “bothered

by things that usually don’t bother you”) Self control: 3-item scale (e.g. “you had

trouble keeping your mind on what you were doing”)

Decision making: 5-item scale (e.g. “when making decisions, you generally use a systematic method for judging and comparing alternatives”)

Social connectedness: 5-item scale (e.g. “you feel close to people at your school”)

Outcome Violence during the life course (Violent

behavior at Waves I, II, or III)

Desistance from violence during adult transition (Violent behavior at Waves I and/or II, but not Wave III)

Late starters (Violent behavior at Wave III only)

Life Course Violence vs. Desisters

No Violence vs. Latestarter

Gender -1.05 1.51Age -.12EthnicitySelf-Esteem -.06 .04Positive Affect .04 - .06Self Control Decision Making .03 -.04Social Connectedness .03 -.03

FEMALES MALESLife Course Violence vs.

Desisters

No Violence vs.

Latestarter

Life Course Violence vs.

Desisters

No Violence vs.

LatestarterAge -.08 -.12 -.11 -.11Ethnicity -.14Self-Esteem -.05 .04 -.07 .06Positive Affect

-.05 .06 -.07

Self ControlDecision Making

-.05 -.04

Social Connectedness

.05 -.03 -.02

The same competencies are predictors of different offending status outcomes.

Self esteem is the only competency that is a consistent predictor across all offending patterns and gender.

Studies focused on predictors of violence should consider different offending patterns

Prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing violent behaviors should focus on positive development of the core competencies.