A mother’s role in child morality development: Effect of explaining the wrongfulness of antisocial behavior on future adult offending

Citation

Walters, Glenn D. (2023). A mother’s role in child morality development: Effect of explaining the wrongfulness of antisocial behavior on future adult offending. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development. pp. 1-19

Abstract

Morality, as discussed by mothers with their adolescent children, was tested as a disincentive for future adult crime via its effect on the antisocial thought processes of cognitive insensitivity (CINS) and cognitive impulsivity (CIMP). In this study, the ability of CINS and CIMP to mediate the effect of a mother?s discussions of ethics with her child on future adult offending was assessed in a group of 3,958 adolescents (1,785 males, 2,173 females) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). A path analysis was performed, controlling for maternal warmth, encouragement of independence, communication, and knowledge, as well as peer delinquency. Consistent with predictions, the results showed that CINS, but not CIMP, negatively mediated the mother ethical discussions?participant offending relationship. These results highlight the salience of inductive parenting in the form of mother-child discussions on ethics and the wrongfulness of antisocial behavior in preventing future adult offending by inhibiting CINS in late adolescence.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2022.2164545

Keyword(s)

Adult offending

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development

Author(s)

Walters, Glenn D.

Year Published

2023

Pages

1-19

ISSN/ISBN

2690-4586

DOI

10.1080/26904586.2022.2164545

Reference ID

9943