| ncarcerated individuals experience childhood maltreatment (i.e.,verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect)at disproportionate rates compared to individuals who have never been in jail or prison. Childhood maltreatment increases the risk for criminal thinking, an established risk factor forcriminal behavior. Additionally, repeated exposure to traumatic eventsin childhood negatively impacts self-regulatory behaviors, such as insensitivity to delayed rewards and risk-taking behaviors. Taken together, impulse control and risk-taking are possible mechanisms that underlie the relationship between childhood maltreatment and criminal thinking.This study aimsto examine the role of impulsivity as an underlying mechanism between childhood maltreatment and criminal thinking patterns in incarcerated men. Participants were 125 adultmale inmates recruitedfrom two local jailsin Southeastern Idaho.It was hypothesized that increased severity of childhood maltreatmentand impulsive choice would predict higher levels of criminal thinking patterns. A sequential multiple regression analysis controlling for age, education level, and substance use was used to examine how childhood maltreatment, and impulsive choice predict criminal thinking patterns (i.e., general, reactive, and proactive) in incarcerated adult men. More specifically, this study examined whether impulsive and risk-taking related decision making for monetary outcomes, as measured through delay and probability discounting paradigms mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatmentand criminal thinking in adult male inmates.Analyses indicated probability discounting differentially predicted criminal thinking styles.Decision-making for monetary outcomes did not mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and criminal thinking.Identification of mechanisms leading to criminal thinking is important in order to effectively design and implement intervention and prevention strategies for reducing recidivism and incarceration.
xiiiKey Words: Childhood Maltreatment; Criminal Thinking; Delay Discounting; Probability Discounting; Impulsivity; Risk-taking |