SOURCE:

Faculty: Social Sciences
Department: Psychology

CONTRIBUTORS:

Mabia, C. E.
Anazonwu, C.O.
Obi-Nwosu, H.

ABSTRACT:

This study examined whether perceived social support, moral disengagement and decision making style will predict tendency to commit crime among undergraduates in Anambra State. 682 students participated in the study. They include 415 females and 262 males whose ages ranged from 17-29 years (mean age 22.41; std 2.28). Mixed sampling design involving purposive, simple random and accidental samplings were used to select the faculties, departments, and students that participated in the study. Four instruments (crime behaviour rating scale, Multidimensional scale of perceived social support, mechanisms of moral disengagement scale and adolescent decision making questionnaire) were used to collect data for the study. The study adopted correlational predictive design and hierarchical multiple regression statistics was used to analyze the data. The result shows that the models for each of the hierarchy were significant, R2=(.07, .17. and .05 and F value for this three hierarchy are 17.32**, 155.42** and 9.40**) respectively. The β value for the third model shows that only (significant others, moral disengagement, evasiveness, panic and self-control) were significant, β = (-.14, -.37, .19, -.08 and -.10) respectively. The discussion focused on importance and implication of these three significant predictors. Recommendations were based on the findings. It was recommended that input from significant others, improved moral disengagement and self confidence are important variables that can induce tendency to commit crime.