Presentation Information
[O2-03]Victims living in the now: A developmental glimpse on time perspectives through a criminological lense
*Sebastian L. Kübel1,2,3 (1. University of Bern (Switzerland), 2. Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law (Germany), 3. University of Leiden (Netherlands))
Keywords:
time perspective,present orientation,development,crime,person-environment interactions,longitudinal structural equation models
The prioritization of the present has for long been considered in Criminology as the most important individual-level predictor of crime. However, time perspectives were proposed as a relatively stable personality trait. Therefore, the discipline has neglected the investigation of factors that shape such a present orientation.
Inspired by current developments in psychology, this work set out to identify environmental factors that contribute to increases in present orientation. This is done using longitudinal data from a big representative sample of Swiss adolescents.
The results identify that victims of violent crimes report more present orientation and decreased future orientation. Mediation analyses show that these changes in time perspective in response to victimization are, in turn, associated with an increased risk to commit crime.
The prioritization of the present can thus explain the prominent criminological observation that victims are more likely to offend themselves. Peer processes following victimization appear to promote the increased focus on the present. Revealing these mechanisms in the development of time perspectives that contribute to crime can inform practical interventions to reduce crime.
Inspired by current developments in psychology, this work set out to identify environmental factors that contribute to increases in present orientation. This is done using longitudinal data from a big representative sample of Swiss adolescents.
The results identify that victims of violent crimes report more present orientation and decreased future orientation. Mediation analyses show that these changes in time perspective in response to victimization are, in turn, associated with an increased risk to commit crime.
The prioritization of the present can thus explain the prominent criminological observation that victims are more likely to offend themselves. Peer processes following victimization appear to promote the increased focus on the present. Revealing these mechanisms in the development of time perspectives that contribute to crime can inform practical interventions to reduce crime.