Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior
Previous research has consistently linked childhood trauma to criminal behavior in adulthood, yet the mechanisms driving this association remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether identity mediates this relationship, focusing on three identity constructs: consolidated identity, distu...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/1/56 |
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| author | Stefan Bogaerts Deni Tressová Esmée Feijen Marija Janković |
| author_facet | Stefan Bogaerts Deni Tressová Esmée Feijen Marija Janković |
| author_sort | Stefan Bogaerts |
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| description | Previous research has consistently linked childhood trauma to criminal behavior in adulthood, yet the mechanisms driving this association remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether identity mediates this relationship, focusing on three identity constructs: consolidated identity, disturbed identity, and lack of identity. Criminal behavior was operationalized as a dichotomous variable, distinguishing between 103 community participants (53.9%) and 88 forensic psychiatric patients (46.1%) in a sample of 191 male participants (<i>M</i>age = 39.82, <i>SD</i>age = 14.14). Mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro model 4, controlling for age and overall personality dysfunction. The results demonstrated that childhood trauma was associated with adult criminal behavior. Additionally, childhood trauma was positively associated with lack of identity but showed no significant effect on consolidated and disturbed identity. Likewise, lack of identity was the only identity variable associated with criminal behavior and emerged as the sole mediator between childhood trauma and criminal behavior. These findings underscore the important role of identity, particularly the lack of identity, in understanding pathways to criminal behavior. Interventions aimed at strengthening individuals’ sense of self may help mitigate criminal tendencies in individuals with a history of childhood trauma, though longitudinal research is needed to further validate these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc55f6e054b54cd1a600c287943f7806 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc55f6e054b54cd1a600c287943f78062025-01-24T13:22:45ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-01-011515610.3390/bs15010056Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal BehaviorStefan Bogaerts0Deni Tressová1Esmée Feijen2Marija Janković3Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The NetherlandsDepartment of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The NetherlandsDepartment of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The NetherlandsDepartment of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The NetherlandsPrevious research has consistently linked childhood trauma to criminal behavior in adulthood, yet the mechanisms driving this association remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether identity mediates this relationship, focusing on three identity constructs: consolidated identity, disturbed identity, and lack of identity. Criminal behavior was operationalized as a dichotomous variable, distinguishing between 103 community participants (53.9%) and 88 forensic psychiatric patients (46.1%) in a sample of 191 male participants (<i>M</i>age = 39.82, <i>SD</i>age = 14.14). Mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro model 4, controlling for age and overall personality dysfunction. The results demonstrated that childhood trauma was associated with adult criminal behavior. Additionally, childhood trauma was positively associated with lack of identity but showed no significant effect on consolidated and disturbed identity. Likewise, lack of identity was the only identity variable associated with criminal behavior and emerged as the sole mediator between childhood trauma and criminal behavior. These findings underscore the important role of identity, particularly the lack of identity, in understanding pathways to criminal behavior. Interventions aimed at strengthening individuals’ sense of self may help mitigate criminal tendencies in individuals with a history of childhood trauma, though longitudinal research is needed to further validate these findings.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/1/56identitychildhood traumacriminal behaviorconsolidated identitydisturbed identitylack of identity |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Bogaerts Deni Tressová Esmée Feijen Marija Janković Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior Behavioral Sciences identity childhood trauma criminal behavior consolidated identity disturbed identity lack of identity |
| title | Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior |
| title_full | Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior |
| title_short | Unraveling the Association: How Identity Mediates the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior |
| title_sort | unraveling the association how identity mediates the impact of childhood trauma on criminal behavior |
| topic | identity childhood trauma criminal behavior consolidated identity disturbed identity lack of identity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/1/56 |
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