The Dark Side of Self-Efficacy: Developing and Testing Measurement of Crime-Specific Efficacy Beliefs

• In Event: Situations, Expectations, Perceived Risk, and Decision Making

Abstract

In criminological research, self-efficacy (confidence that one’s behavior will produce the desired outcome) has typically been studied in relation to prosocial behaviors or as a general personality trait. Yet, self-efficacy varies by domain and can also be specific to antisocial behaviors, such as crime. Crime-specific self-efficacy (CSE) could be problematic because self-efficacy beliefs are resilient to change and alter the actions individuals choose to take. This suggests those who have high CSE beliefs would be more likely to persist in crime. We develop a test of CSE in line with the recommendations specified by Bandura (2006) and test efficacy beliefs in a sample of college students, discussing the implications of CSE for future behavior.

Authors

• Jessica Deitzer, University of Maryland

• Thomas Loughran, University of Maryland