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Can perspective-taking reduce crime? Examining a pathway through empathic-concern and guilt-proneness.

ABSTRACT: We describe and appraise a theoretical model in which individual differences in perspective-taking eventuate in crime reduction. Specifically, it is hypothesized that perspective-taking propensities influence the tendency to feel empathic-concern, thereby heightening proneness for guilt, which ultimately inhibits criminal behavior (perspective-taking ? empathic-concern ? guilt-proneness ? crime desistance). Data from two sources were analyzed: (a) a cross-sectional college sample and (b) a longitudinal sample of jail inmates. Overall, results lend credence to this theoretical model: Perspective-taking propensities ultimately "put the brakes" on criminal behavior-via an emotional pathway of empathic-concern and then guilt-proneness. Discussion focuses on the nature of perspective-taking, its generative role for moral emotion and behavior, as well as potential applications for crime reduction.

SUBMITTER: Martinez AG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4495648 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Can perspective-taking reduce crime? Examining a pathway through empathic-concern and guilt-proneness.

Martinez Andres G AG Stuewig Jeffrey J Tangney June P JP

Personality & social psychology bulletin 20141016 12

We describe and appraise a theoretical model in which individual differences in perspective-taking eventuate in crime reduction. Specifically, it is hypothesized that perspective-taking propensities influence the tendency to feel empathic-concern, thereby heightening proneness for guilt, which ultimately inhibits criminal behavior (perspective-taking → empathic-concern → guilt-proneness → crime desistance). Data from two sources were analyzed: (a) a cross-sectional college sample and (b) a longi ...[more]

PMID: 25324328

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