The Integrated Psychosocial Model of Criminal Social Identity (IPM-CSI)

ABSTRACT

The integrated psychosocial model of criminal social identity attempts to synthesize, distill, and extend our knowledge and understanding of why people develop criminal social identity, with a particular focus on the psychological and social factors involved. We suggest that the development of criminal social identity results from a complex interplay between four important groups of psychosocial factors: (1) an identity crisis that results in weak bonds with society, peer rejection, and is associated with poor parental attachment and supervision; (2) exposure to a criminal/antisocial environment in the form of associations with criminal friends before, during, and/or after incarceration; (3) a need for identification with a criminal group in order to protect one’s self-esteem; and (4) the moderating role of personality traits in the relationship between criminal/antisocial environment and the development of criminal social identity. The model produces testable hypotheses and points to potential opportunities for intervention and prevention. Directions for future research are discussed.

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Notes on contributors

Daniel Boduszek

DANIEL BODUSZEK is a Reader in Criminal Psychology at the University of Huddersfield and Director of Quantitative Research Methods Training Unit. His current research interests and publications include the aspects of criminal cognitions, homicidal behavior, psychopathy, prisonization, and recidivism.

Katie Dhingra

KATIE DHINGRA is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Leeds Beckett University. Her current research interests and publications include psychopathy, homicide, suicide, and self-injury.

Agata Debowska

AGATA DEBOWSKA is a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Chester. Her current research interests and publications include psychopathy, violence, rape attitudes, and child sexual abuse.