The shortsighted victim: Short-term mindsets mediate the link between victimization and later offending

S.L. Kübel; J.R. Deitzer; W.E. Frankenhuis; D. Ribeaud; M.P. Eisner; J.L. van Gelder

doi:10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2023.102062

The shortsighted victim: Short-term mindsets mediate the link between victimization and later offending

S.L. Kübel, J.R. Deitzer, W.E. Frankenhuis, D. Ribeaud, M.P. Eisner, J.L. van Gelder^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Predominant explanations of the victim-offender overlap tend to focus on shared causes, such as (low) self-control or risky lifestyles. Such explanations bypass the possibility of a causal link between victimization and offending. We draw on evolutionary developmental psychology and criminological research to propose and test the hypothesis that victimization induces what we refer to as a short-term mindset, i.e., an orientation towards the here-and-now at the expense of considering the future, which in turn increases offending.

Methods: We test this mediation hypothesis using structural equation modeling of longitudinal data from a representative sample of urban youth from the city of Zurich, Switzerland (N = 1675).

Results: In line with our preregistered predictions, we find that short-term mindsets mediate the effect of victimization on offending, net of prior levels of offending and short-term mindsets, and other controls.

Conclusions: We discuss implications for criminological theory and interventions.

Original language	English
Article number	102062
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Journal	Journal of Criminal Justice
Volume	86
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2023.102062
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The research reported in this manuscript was financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently: 10FI17_198052 ), the Jacobs Foundation , the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Canton of Zurich Department of Education, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, the Julius Baer Foundation, the Visana Foundation and a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council [Grant Number 772911 – CRIMETIME]. It has also been supported by the Dutch Research Council ( V1.Vidi.195.130 ), the James S. McDonnell Foundation ( https://doi.org/10.37717/220020502 ), and the Jacobs Foundation ( 2017 1261 02 ). The arguments and findings presented here are the authors' own and do not reflect positions taken or supported by funders.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

Keywords

Longitudinal
Sensation-seeking
Future uncertainty
Short-term mindsets
Structural equation models
Victim-offender overlap

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1-s2.0-S0047235223000338-mainFinal published version, 895 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The shortsighted victim: Short-term mindsets mediate the link between victimization and later offending",

abstract = "Background: Predominant explanations of the victim-offender overlap tend to focus on shared causes, such as (low) self-control or risky lifestyles. Such explanations bypass the possibility of a causal link between victimization and offending. We draw on evolutionary developmental psychology and criminological research to propose and test the hypothesis that victimization induces what we refer to as a short-term mindset, i.e., an orientation towards the here-and-now at the expense of considering the future, which in turn increases offending. Methods: We test this mediation hypothesis using structural equation modeling of longitudinal data from a representative sample of urban youth from the city of Zurich, Switzerland (N = 1675).Results: In line with our preregistered predictions, we find that short-term mindsets mediate the effect of victimization on offending, net of prior levels of offending and short-term mindsets, and other controls. Conclusions: We discuss implications for criminological theory and interventions.",

keywords = "Longitudinal, Sensation-seeking, Future uncertainty, Short-term mindsets, Structural equation models, Victim-offender overlap",

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note = "Funding Information: The research reported in this manuscript was financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently: 10FI17\_198052 ), the Jacobs Foundation , the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Canton of Zurich Department of Education, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, the Julius Baer Foundation, the Visana Foundation and a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council [Grant Number 772911 – CRIMETIME]. It has also been supported by the Dutch Research Council ( V1.Vidi.195.130 ), the James S. McDonnell Foundation ( https://doi.org/10.37717/220020502 ), and the Jacobs Foundation ( 2017 1261 02 ). The arguments and findings presented here are the authors' own and do not reflect positions taken or supported by funders. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s)",

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AU - Frankenhuis, W.E.

AU - Ribeaud, D.

AU - Eisner, M.P.

AU - van Gelder, J.L.

N1 - Funding Information: The research reported in this manuscript was financially supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (currently: 10FI17_198052 ), the Jacobs Foundation , the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, the Canton of Zurich Department of Education, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, the Julius Baer Foundation, the Visana Foundation and a Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council [Grant Number 772911 – CRIMETIME]. It has also been supported by the Dutch Research Council ( V1.Vidi.195.130 ), the James S. McDonnell Foundation ( https://doi.org/10.37717/220020502 ), and the Jacobs Foundation ( 2017 1261 02 ). The arguments and findings presented here are the authors' own and do not reflect positions taken or supported by funders. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

PY - 2023/5/1

Y1 - 2023/5/1

N2 - Background: Predominant explanations of the victim-offender overlap tend to focus on shared causes, such as (low) self-control or risky lifestyles. Such explanations bypass the possibility of a causal link between victimization and offending. We draw on evolutionary developmental psychology and criminological research to propose and test the hypothesis that victimization induces what we refer to as a short-term mindset, i.e., an orientation towards the here-and-now at the expense of considering the future, which in turn increases offending. Methods: We test this mediation hypothesis using structural equation modeling of longitudinal data from a representative sample of urban youth from the city of Zurich, Switzerland (N = 1675).Results: In line with our preregistered predictions, we find that short-term mindsets mediate the effect of victimization on offending, net of prior levels of offending and short-term mindsets, and other controls. Conclusions: We discuss implications for criminological theory and interventions.

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The shortsighted victim: Short-term mindsets mediate the link between victimization and later offending

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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