Sociocognitive self-regulatory mechanisms governing transgressive behavior

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Understanding the self-regulatory mechanisms underlying transgressive conduct is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Previous research has identified various factors influencing behavior, but a comprehensive structural model is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine a structural model of self-regulatory mechanisms governing transgressive conduct.
• To investigate the direct and indirect effects of perceived efficacy, moral self-sanctions, moral disengagement, and affectivity on transgressiveness.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal research design.
• Structural equation modeling to test the proposed model.
• Data collected over time to establish temporal precedence.

Main Results:

• Perceived academic and self-regulatory efficacy deterred transgressiveness directly and by promoting prosocialness and moral self-sanctions.
• Social self-efficacy's impact was mediated by prosocialness.
• Moral disengagement and prosocialness influenced transgressiveness via affectivity (irascible affectivity and hostile rumination).
• Ruminative affectivity concurrently and longitudinally predicted transgressiveness.
• Moral disengagement independently predicted transgressiveness over time, controlling for prior transgressiveness.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a robust structural model of self-regulatory mechanisms in transgressive conduct.
• Findings highlight the importance of self-efficacy, moral self-sanctions, and affect regulation in preventing harmful behavior.
• The model's replication across gender suggests generalizability.