Poster #133 - AI Narratives of Youth Behavior: How ChatGPT Explains Animal Cruelty and Juvenile Justice Involvement

• In Event: Poster Session II (posters 80 – 155)

Abstract

Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly used by the public, students, and practitioners to understand complex social issues, yet little is known about how these systems construct explanations about youth behavior and pathways into the juvenile justice system. This study examines how ChatGPT explains the relationship between early animal cruelty and later justice‑system involvement, a link frequently discussed in criminology, psychology, and youth‑serving fields. Using a qualitative content‑analysis approach, multiple ChatGPT responses were generated and analyzed to identify dominant narratives, underlying assumptions, and the extent to which explanations align with or diverge from empirical research. Findings indicate that ChatGPT consistently frames the link through trauma‑based, behavioral, and environmental pathways, while also reproducing common public narratives that may oversimplify or pathologize youth. The study highlights the importance of critically evaluating AI‑generated explanations about sensitive topics, as these narratives can shape public understanding, reinforce or challenge stigma, and influence how users interpret risk, responsibility, and intervention needs. This research contributes to emerging scholarship on AI as a knowledge‑producing actor and underscores the need for careful scrutiny of AI‑mediated information in juvenile justice contexts and assessments of animal cruelty behavior.

Authors

• Abby Williamson, University of Central Florida

• Kelley Ortiz, University of Central Florida