This study aimed to analyze adolescents' general antisocial attitudes and their attitudes toward 17 categories of peer delinquency. The instruments used for this purpose were the Criminal Sentiments Scale-Modified (CSS-M; Shields & Simourd, 1991) and an additional set of questions (answered on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 = very antisocial to 7 = not antisocial) regarding peer delinquency wrongness and recommended punishment levels, and self-predicted behavior upon witnessing criminal behavior perpetrated by peers. A convenience sample of 172 high school students (male n = 80, female n = 92, 15-20 years of age) from two midsized cities in Sweden were selected. CSS-M scores indicated that boys have a higher tolerance for law violations than girls. The scores for punishment levels were consistently below wrongness levels. Pearson correlations between the two scales were statistically significant, ranking between .278 (Threat of Force to Gain Item) to .748 (Smoke Marijuana). Spearman correlations between self-predicted behavior and the conflation of wrongness and recommended punishment levels were high for drug crimes and low for violence against persons. Girls rated the wrongness levels of crimes significantly higher than boys (except for Vandalism and Graffiti) and the recommended punishment levels, especially regarding drug crimes and violence against persons. Girls reported more active behavior (in the self-predicted behavior items) against drug crimes, although there were fewer differences in other categories. Although adolescents score criminal behavior as highly wrong, their corresponding punishment level is only moderate. Consistency between attitude (i.e., wrongness and recommended punishment levels) and self-predicted behavior exists, especially regarding drug-related crimes. Gender differences are present in drug crimes, with boys scoring lower than girls in general. No differences existed based on immigration status.
2020-01-22