Increase in self-rejection as an antecedent of deviant responses

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Criminology

Background:

• Negative self-attitudes are linked to various psychological and behavioral issues.
• Understanding the precursors to deviant behavior is crucial for intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that increasing negative self-attitudes precede deviant responses.
• To examine the relationship between changes in self-derogation and the adoption of deviant behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study tracking 3,148 seventh-grade students over three annual intervals.
• Self-attitudes measured using a seven-item self-derogation scale.
• Change in self-derogation calculated as deviation from regression line; linked to 22 deviant acts.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in self-derogation preceded deviant acts in 19 out of 22 instances.
• Students reporting deviant acts showed greater antecedent increases in self-derogation compared to those who did not.
• Findings support negative self-attitudes as a common mediator for deviant responses.

Conclusions:

• The development of negative self-attitudes is a significant predictor of adolescent deviant behavior.
• Adverse group experiences may contribute to negative self-attitudes, subsequently influencing deviance.
• Interventions targeting self-esteem may help prevent a range of deviant behaviors.