Abstract
We examined antisocial adolescents’ perceptions of the importance of and their ability to accomplish positive life outcomes
(e.g., employment) and avoid negative ones (e.g., arrests) during their transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants
were 1,354 adolescents from the Pathways to Desistance project, a multisite longitudinal study of seriously antisocial adolescents.
Participants’ perceptions of the importance and likelihood of accomplishing positive adult goals at one age uniquely predicted
how often they engaged in behaviors that were consistent with these goals the following year. Our findings suggest that among
serious adolescent offenders aspirations to achieve positive goals are related to engaging in behaviors that bring adolescents’
current selves more in line with their aspired-to future selves. We discuss the implications of these findings for prevention
and intervention efforts.
(e.g., employment) and avoid negative ones (e.g., arrests) during their transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Participants
were 1,354 adolescents from the Pathways to Desistance project, a multisite longitudinal study of seriously antisocial adolescents.
Participants’ perceptions of the importance and likelihood of accomplishing positive adult goals at one age uniquely predicted
how often they engaged in behaviors that were consistent with these goals the following year. Our findings suggest that among
serious adolescent offenders aspirations to achieve positive goals are related to engaging in behaviors that bring adolescents’
current selves more in line with their aspired-to future selves. We discuss the implications of these findings for prevention
and intervention efforts.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10802-011-9561-z
- Authors
- Anne-Marie R. Iselin, Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-09545, USA
- Edward P. Mulvey, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Thomas A. Loughran, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- He Len Chung, The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ, USA
- Carol A. Schubert, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Journal Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2835
- Print ISSN 0091-0627