Abstract

BOBBIO, Antonella  and  ARBACH, Karin. Self-control and attachment styles: their influence on criminal behavior and physical aggression of Argentine adolescents. Rev. Crim. [online]. 2019, vol.61, n.3, pp.205-219. ISSN 1794-3108.

The relationship between self-control, attachment and crime has been established in numerous scientific studies, mostly from developed countries. In Latin America there are scarce works that have been devoted to the study of the relationship between these variables. The present investigation explored the influence of self-control and attachment on two criteria variables: on one hand, general criminal behavior and, on the other, physical aggression behavior, in a sample formed by 86 adolescents in conflict with criminal law and 86 adolescents from the general male population of Argentina. Two independent logistic regression analyzes indicated that the predictors of both criteria differ from each other. Insecure type attachment styles discriminated between juvenile offenders and nonoffenders, and self-control was the only variable that differentiated young people with physical aggression behaviors from those who did not manifest these behaviors. Likewise, offending adolescents presented a higher risk of presenting physical aggression behaviors compared to those of the general population. From a theoretical perspective, the work contemplated the role of two variables included in internationally recognized theories in the explanation of criminal behavior. From a practical point of view, the study of risk factors that demonstrate an empirical relationship with crime is essential for the design of prevention and intervention strategies in criminal matters.

Keywords : Juvenile offender; aggressions; psychological factors; personality; Latin America.

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