Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Psychology
Supervisor
Dr. Peter Hoaken
Abstract
The cost of crime should not be underestimated; considerable resources have been
directed towards implementing various remediation programs in hopes of reducing recidivism. While support for the efficacy of these programs exists, it remains that they are not effective for all individuals. To explain this variability, one factor that has begun to gather research interest is executive cognitive functioning (ECF). This study investigated the relationship between ECF and recidivism, as well as institutional misconduct, in a sample of 81 male offenders. No significant differences in ECF were found between institution conformists and non-conformists, or recidivists and non recidivists; however, early recidivists showed significant impairments in areas of strategy formation, response monitoring, working memory, impulsivity and attention. These
deficits likely reflect impairments in overall problem-solving abilities and suggest that ECF deficiencies may play a role in the timing of recidivism. The findings are interpreted in terms of implications for improving remediation programming.
Recommended Citation
Lau, Megan Janae, "EXECUTIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AS A RISK FACTOR IN RECIDIVISM A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF FEDERALLY INCARCERATED OFFENDERS" (2009). Digitized Theses. 4044.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4044