Examining the Relationship Between Criminogenic Thinking, Differential Identification, Motivation, and Risk-Taking Behavior in Emerging Adults

Abstract

Young adults engage in a disproportionately high rate of problematic behaviors such as risky sexual activities, academic dishonesty, and substance abuse. In order to understand why this occurs, two lesser-known constructs related to risk-taking behavior were investigated in this study: differential identification, which has yet to be empirically studied in the context of emerging adults, and criminogenic thinking, which has only been evaluated in this context to a minimal degree. To bridge the gap between these two constructs, motivation was hypothesized to be a moderator in each of these respective relationships. Data from 309 emerging adults were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to complete the survey materials online. The analysis consisted of a hierarchical multiple linear regression. Results indicated that motivation did not moderate either relationship (i.e., differential identification and risk-taking behavior and criminogenic thinking and risk-taking behavior). However, a main effect was found between one aspect of differential identification and risk-taking behavior. No other main effects were found in this study. Potential explanations for the results of this study are discussed, as well as implications and directions for future research.

Keywords

• Criminogenic thinking
• differential identification
• risk-taking

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