Executive functioning as a predictive measure of offending behaviour.

Journal article


Spenser, Karin A., Bull, Ray, Betts, Lucy and Winder, Belinda 2019. Executive functioning as a predictive measure of offending behaviour. Journal of Criminal Psychology.. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2018-0032
AuthorsSpenser, Karin A., Bull, Ray, Betts, Lucy and Winder, Belinda
Abstract

Prosociality is considered important in the study of offenders and associated cognitive skills: theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning, are said to enable self-control and reduce the risk of offending behaviours. Previous research has made associations between these skills and executive functioning; however, research into a link between them, in an offending population, is limited. The paper aims to discuss this issue. To further understand the practicalities of this, the present study considered the predictive abilities of the constructs believed to underpin executive functioning: working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, in relation to theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning. In total, 200 male and female offenders completed measures in all six constructs. Using path analysis working memory was demonstrated to be predictive of theory of mind and empathic understanding, cognitive flexibility was found to be predictive of theory of mind, and inhibitory control was found to be predictive of theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning. The study focussed on offenders serving a custodial sentence of six months or less and did not differentiate between crime categories or take into consideration the socio-environmental backgrounds or ethnicity. Therefore, considering these things could further establish the generalisability of the current findings. It is noted that the more focused the intervention is to the specific needs of an offender, the greater the impact will be. Therefore, pre-screening tests for the constructs discussed may be able to more accurately assess an offenders’ suitability for a programme, or indeed tailor it to meet the specific needs of that person. These findings may enable practitioners to more accurately assess offenders’ suitability for interventions aimed at reducing offending behaviours by improving levels of prosociality and develop more focused programmes to meet the specific needs of individual offenders to reduce re-offending. As recommended in the study, a more tailored approach to offender rehabilitation may be a potential aid to reducing levels of recidivism. The present study adds to the literature as it is the first to consider whether the constructs of executive functioning can predict levels of theory of mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning and so provide a more accurate method in assessing the cognitive abilities of offenders prior to participation in rehabilitative interventions.

KeywordsOffenders; emphatic understanding
Year2019
JournalJournal of Criminal Psychology.
PublisherEmerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN2009-3829
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2018-0032
Web address (URL)http://hdl.handle.net/10545/623401
hdl:10545/623401
Publication dates24 Jan 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited28 Jan 2019, 17:39
Accepted05 Nov 2018
Rights

Archived with thanks to Journal of Criminal Psychology

ContributorsUniversity of Derby and Nottingham Trent University
File
File Access Level
Open
File
File Access Level
Open
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/92q6q/executive-functioning-as-a-predictive-measure-of-offending-behaviour

Download files

  • 102
    total views
  • 76
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Humane interrogation strategies are associated with confessions, cooperation, and disclosure: Evidence from a field study of incarcerated individuals in the United States
Bettens, T., Bull, R. and Cleary, H. M .D 2024. Humane interrogation strategies are associated with confessions, cooperation, and disclosure: Evidence from a field study of incarcerated individuals in the United States. Criminal Justice and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241232068
Investigating Feminicide in Mexico. The Conversation Management Approach proposal
Pérez Campos Mayoral, E., Bull, R., Shepherd, E. and Pérez Campos, E.L. 2023. Investigating Feminicide in Mexico. The Conversation Management Approach proposal. European Polygraph. 17 (1), pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.2478/ep-2023-0002
Improving the Interviewing of Suspects Using the PEACE Model: A Comprehensive Overview
Bull, R. 2023. Improving the Interviewing of Suspects Using the PEACE Model: A Comprehensive Overview. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice . 65 (1).
Rapport-Building in Multiple Interviews of Children
Waterhouse, G., Ridley, A., Ray Bull,, Satchell, L. and Wilcock, R. 2023. Rapport-Building in Multiple Interviews of Children. Applied Cognitive Psychology. pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4116
Investigating the Memory Reports of Retractors Regarding Abuse
Li, C., Otgaar, H., van Daele, T., Muris, P., Houben, S. T. L. and Bull, R. 2023. Investigating the Memory Reports of Retractors Regarding Abuse. European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. 15 (2), pp. 63-71. https://doi.org/10.5093/ejpalc2023a7
The non-stranger rapist-oriented interview for complainants: Eliciting high-quality accounts
Sharita Gajadhar and Ray Bull 2023. The non-stranger rapist-oriented interview for complainants: Eliciting high-quality accounts. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032258x231184980
How do German Police Officers of Varying Empathy Levels React to Different Styles of Interviewing a Suspected Sex Offender?
Baker-Eck, B. and Bull, R. 2023. How do German Police Officers of Varying Empathy Levels React to Different Styles of Interviewing a Suspected Sex Offender? International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. 74, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100610
Fueling an investigative mindset: the importance of pre-interview planning in police interviews with suspects
Chin, J., Milne, R. and Bull, R. 2022. Fueling an investigative mindset: the importance of pre-interview planning in police interviews with suspects. Psychology, Crime & Law. pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2022.2139829
The influence of interview style on SIOs’ responsiveness to the suspect’s alibi
van Beek, M., Bull, R., Chen, M., Fahsing, I. and Milne, R. 2022. The influence of interview style on SIOs’ responsiveness to the suspect’s alibi . Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09551-5
A free account or not? Its effect upon information yield in strategic interviews with suspects
van Beek, M., Bull, R. and Mijalkovic, S. 2022. A free account or not? Its effect upon information yield in strategic interviews with suspects. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling. https://doi.org/10.1002/jip.1600
Effects of Empathy and Question Types on Suspects’ Provision of Information in Investigative Interviews
Baker-Eck, B. and Bull, R. 2022. Effects of Empathy and Question Types on Suspects’ Provision of Information in Investigative Interviews. International Journal of Police Science and Management. 24 (4), pp. 406 - 416. https://doi.org/10.1177/14613557221106073
Gender differences in theory of mind, empathic understanding, and moral reasoning in an offending and a matched non-offending population
Spenser, Karin, Bull, Ray, Betts, Lucy and Winder, Belinda 2021. Gender differences in theory of mind, empathic understanding, and moral reasoning in an offending and a matched non-offending population. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211010287
WAF0042 - Inquiry: Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life
Spenser, Karin, Childs, Carrie and Adhikari, Joanna 2021. WAF0042 - Inquiry: Women in the Armed Forces: From Recruitment to Civilian Life. UK Parliament.
Investigative empathy: Five types of cognitive empathy in a field study of investigative interviews with suspects of sexual offences
Baker-Eck, Bianca, Bull, Ray and Walsh, Dave 2021. Investigative empathy: Five types of cognitive empathy in a field study of investigative interviews with suspects of sexual offences. Investigative Interviewing: Research and Practice.
Contextual factors predict self-reported confession decision-making: A field study of suspects’ actual police interrogation experiences.
Cleary, Hayley and Bull, Ray 2021. Contextual factors predict self-reported confession decision-making: A field study of suspects’ actual police interrogation experiences. Law and Human Behavior. 45 (4), pp. 310-323. https://doi.org/10.1037/lhb0000459
The impact of context on real-life serious crime interviews
Leahy-Harland, Samantha and Bull, Ray 2020. The impact of context on real-life serious crime interviews. Police Research and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2020.1848565
Exploring investigative interviewing: A Dubai perspective
Almansoori, Rashid, Milne, Rebecca and Bull, Ray 2020. Exploring investigative interviewing: A Dubai perspective. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2020.100393
Underpinning prosociality: Age related performance in theory of mind, empathic understanding, and moral reasoning
Spenser, Karin, Bull, Ray, Betts, Lucy and Winder, Belinda 2020. Underpinning prosociality: Age related performance in theory of mind, empathic understanding, and moral reasoning. Cognitive Development. 56, p. 100928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2020.100928
Police interview of suspects in China: developments and analyses
Zeng, Fanging, Huang, Ching-Yu and Bull, Ray 2020. Police interview of suspects in China: developments and analyses. International Journal of Police Science and Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720947548
Improving pofessional observers’ veracity judgements by tactical interviewing
Sandham, Alex, Dando, Coral, Bull, Ray and Ormerod, Tom 2020. Improving pofessional observers’ veracity judgements by tactical interviewing. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09391-1
Applying hierarchy of expert performance (HEP) to investigative interview evaluation: strengths, challenges and future directions
Huang, Ching-Yu, Bull, Ray and Dror, Itiel 2020. Applying hierarchy of expert performance (HEP) to investigative interview evaluation: strengths, challenges and future directions. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1770634
Investigative empathy: a strength scale of empathy based on European police perspectives
Baker, Bianca, Bull, Ray and Walsh, Dave 2020. Investigative empathy: a strength scale of empathy based on European police perspectives. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1751333
Witnesses’ verbal evaluation of certainty and uncertainty during investigative interviews: Relationship with report accuracy
Paulo, Rui, Bull, Ray and Albuqurque, Pedro 2019. Witnesses’ verbal evaluation of certainty and uncertainty during investigative interviews: Relationship with report accuracy. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-019-09333-6
Improving the enhanced cognitive interview with a new interview strategy: category clustering recall.
Paulo, Rui M., Albuquerque, Pedro B. and Bull, Ray 2017. Improving the enhanced cognitive interview with a new interview strategy: category clustering recall. Applied Cognitive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3253
Mapping repeated interviews
Waterhouse, Genevieve F., Ridley, Anne M., Bull, Ray, La Rooy, David and Wilcock, Rachel 2018. Mapping repeated interviews. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-018-9288-7
Jail inmates’ perspectives on police interrogation.
Cleary, Hayley M. D. and Bull, Ray 2018. Jail inmates’ perspectives on police interrogation. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2018.1503667
Adolescents’ involvement in cyber bullying and perceptions of school: The importance of perceived peer acceptance for female adolescents.
Betts, Lucy R., Spenser, Karin A. and Gardner, Sarah E. 2017. Adolescents’ involvement in cyber bullying and perceptions of school: The importance of perceived peer acceptance for female adolescents. Sex Roles. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-017-0742-2
Developing the cyber victimization experiences and cyberbullying behaviors scales.
Betts, Lucy R. and Spenser, Karin A. 2017. Developing the cyber victimization experiences and cyberbullying behaviors scales. The Journal of Genetic Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221325.2017.1295222
Defining and conceptualizing cyberbullying.
Spenser, Karin A. and Betts, Lucy R. 2017. Defining and conceptualizing cyberbullying. in: IGI Global.
An exploration of perceptions of real-life suspects’ from the Asian Muslim community relating to the police interviewing practices in England
Minhas, Rashid, Walsh, Dave and Bull, Ray 2017. An exploration of perceptions of real-life suspects’ from the Asian Muslim community relating to the police interviewing practices in England. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. https://doi.org/10.1080/18335330.2017.1355103
Police perceptions of rape victims and the impact on case decision making: A systematic review
Sleath, Emma and Bull, Ray 2017. Police perceptions of rape victims and the impact on case decision making: A systematic review. Aggression and violent behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2017.02.003
Enhancing the cognitive interview with an alternative procedure to witness-compatible questioning: category clustering recall
Paulo, Rui M., Albuquerque, Pedro B., Vitorino, Fabiana and Bull, Ray 2017. Enhancing the cognitive interview with an alternative procedure to witness-compatible questioning: category clustering recall. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2017.1351966
Helping to sort the liars from the truth-tellers: The gradual revelation of information during investigative interviews
Dando, Coral J., Bull, Ray, Ormerod, Thomas C. and Sandham, Alexandra L. 2013. Helping to sort the liars from the truth-tellers: The gradual revelation of information during investigative interviews. Legal and Criminological Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12016
Detecting truth in suspect interviews: the effect of use of evidence (early and gradual) and time delay on Criteria-Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and inconsistency within suspect statements
McDougall, Alice Jennifer and Bull, Ray 2015. Detecting truth in suspect interviews: the effect of use of evidence (early and gradual) and time delay on Criteria-Based Content Analysis, Reality Monitoring and inconsistency within suspect statements. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2014.994631
The effect of co-offender planning on verbal deception
Chan, Stephanie and Bull, Ray 2013. The effect of co-offender planning on verbal deception. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2013.835703
Exploring the disclosure of forensic evidence in police interviews with suspects
Smith, Lisa L. and Bull, Ray 2013. Exploring the disclosure of forensic evidence in police interviews with suspects. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-013-9131-0
Behavior displayed by female victims during rapes committed by lone and multiple perpetrators.
Woodhams, Jessica, Hollin, Clive R., Bull, Ray and Cooke, Claire 2012. Behavior displayed by female victims during rapes committed by lone and multiple perpetrators. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026134
Dynamics of repeated interviews with children
Waterhouse, Genevieve F., Ridley, Anne M., Bull, Ray, La Rooy, David and Wilcock, Rachel 2016. Dynamics of repeated interviews with children. Applied Cognitive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3246
Police strategies and suspect responses in real-life serious crime interviews
Leahy-Harland, Samantha and Bull, Ray 2016. Police strategies and suspect responses in real-life serious crime interviews. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-016-9207-8
Planning ahead? An exploratory study of South Korean Investigators' beliefs about their planning for investigative interviews of suspects.
Kim, Jihwan, Walsh, Dave, Bull, Ray and Bergstrom, H. 2017. Planning ahead? An exploratory study of South Korean Investigators' beliefs about their planning for investigative interviews of suspects. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-017-9243-z
Developing a scale to measure the presence of possible prejudicial stereotyping in police interviews with suspects: The Minhas Investigative Interviewing Prejudicial Stereotyping Scale (MIIPSS)
Minhas, Rashid Ali, Walsh, Dave and Bull, Ray 2016. Developing a scale to measure the presence of possible prejudicial stereotyping in police interviews with suspects: The Minhas Investigative Interviewing Prejudicial Stereotyping Scale (MIIPSS). Police Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/15614263.2016.1249870
One way or another? Criminal investigators' beliefs regarding the disclosure of evidence in interviews with suspects in England and Wales
Walsh, Dave, Milne, Becky and Bull, Ray 2015. One way or another? Criminal investigators' beliefs regarding the disclosure of evidence in interviews with suspects in England and Wales. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-015-9174-5
Examining the roles young people fulfill in five types of cyber bullying
Betts, Lucy R., Gkimitzoudis, Athanasios, Spenser, Karin A. and Baguley, Thom 2016. Examining the roles young people fulfill in five types of cyber bullying. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407516668585
"A large can of worms": Teachers' perceptions of young people's technology use
Betts, Lucy R. and Spenser, Karin A. 2015. "A large can of worms": Teachers' perceptions of young people's technology use. International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijcbpl.2015040102
“People think it’s a harmless joke”: young people’s understanding of the impact of technology, digital vulnerability and cyberbullying in the United Kingdom
Betts, Lucy R. and Spenser, Karin A. 2016. “People think it’s a harmless joke”: young people’s understanding of the impact of technology, digital vulnerability and cyberbullying in the United Kingdom. Journal of Children and Media. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2016.1233893
Deficits in Theory of Mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning: a comparison between young offenders and non-offenders
Spenser, Karin A., Betts, Lucy R. and Das Gupta, Mani 2015. Deficits in Theory of Mind, empathic understanding and moral reasoning: a comparison between young offenders and non-offenders. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2015.1028542
A lesson on interrogations from detainees: Predicting self-reported confessions and cooperation
Snook, Brent, Brooks, Dianna and Bull, Ray 2015. A lesson on interrogations from detainees: Predicting self-reported confessions and cooperation. Criminal Justice and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854815604179
The enhanced cognitive interview: Testing appropriateness perception, memory capacity and error estimate relation with report quality
Paulo, Rui M., Albuquerque, Pedro B., Saraiva, Magda and Bull, Ray 2015. The enhanced cognitive interview: Testing appropriateness perception, memory capacity and error estimate relation with report quality. Applied Cognitive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3132
The enhanced cognitive interview: expressions of uncertainty, motivation and its relation with report accuracy
Paulo, Rui M., Albuquerque, Pedro B. and Bull, Ray 2015. The enhanced cognitive interview: expressions of uncertainty, motivation and its relation with report accuracy. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2015.1109089
Interviewing suspects: examining the association between skills, questioning, evidence disclosure, and interview outcomes
Walsh, Dave and Bull, Ray 2015. Interviewing suspects: examining the association between skills, questioning, evidence disclosure, and interview outcomes. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2015.1028544
Police interrogation practice in Slovenia
Areh, Igor, Walsh, Dave and Bull, Ray 2015. Police interrogation practice in Slovenia. Psychology, Crime & Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2015.1114113
Linking different types of crime using geographical and temporal proximity
Tonkin, Matthew, Woodhams, Jessica, Bull, Ray, Bond, John W. and Palmer, Emma J. 2011. Linking different types of crime using geographical and temporal proximity. Criminal Justice and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854811418599