Validity of the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates with Adolescent Female Offenders

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Prominent correctional psychology researchers argue that the psychological construct of criminal attitudes is one of the strongest dynamic predictors of criminal behavior (Andrews & Bonta, 2010). In contrast, feminist criminological researchers are more skeptical regarding the importance of person level variables such as criminal attitudes in the context of explaining female perpetrated crime (Kendall, 2002). To date, no studies have examined the reliability and validity of the Measure of Antisocial Attitudes and Associates (MCAA; Mills, Kroner & Forth, 2002) in a sample of adolescent female offenders. Notably, the MCAA is a well-established measure commonly used with adult male offenders. Consequently, a cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted examining the reliability and validity of the MCAA in a sample of adolescent female offenders (N = 105). Preliminary evidence is encouraging (e.g., convergent validity estimates ranging from r = .354 to r = .554; internal consistency estimates ranging from α = .65 to α = .84). Implications for using the gender neutral, MCAA with female adolescent offenders versus developing a gender-informed measure of criminal attitudes specifically for female offenders are discussed.

Authors

• Heidi O'Hagan, Carleton University

• Shelley L. Brown, Carleton University

• Tracey Skilling, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health