Attributions for offending between first-time and repeat non-violent offenders

Abstract

A study was undertaken to investigate attributional differences between two groups of inmates. Subjects were caucasian, non-violent, male offenders who were inmates of Arohata, Wellington, Rimutaka, and Manawatu prisons. They were sentenced for crimes such as theft, burglary, fraud, embezzlement, driving while disqualified and drug possession and drug trafficking. Subjects were selected on the basis of their ethnicity, offence, and prison term. The independent variable was number of previous imprisonments. Subjects were categorised as either first-time offenders (in which current prison term was the first served) or repeat offenders (in which the current prison term was at least their third imprisonment). On the basis that the criminal behaviour of first-time offenders has not been as persistent as that of repeat offenders it was hypothesised that the attributions offenders made about their offending behaviour would differ. The Four Attributional Dimension Scale (4-ADS) was utilised to examine the hypotheses. Specifically it was hypothesised that repeat offenders would make attributions that were more internal, more stable and more uncontrollable, and more global than first-time offenders. It was also hypothesised that differences would exist between the two groups on their reasons given for offending. Results were significant for the attributional dimensions of stability and globality. Repeat offenders were found to make more stable and global attributions about their offending behaviour than first-time offenders. Significant differences on the dimensions of internality and controllability were not found. Methodological limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.