The document discusses an integrated informal control-lifestyle theory for explaining youth offending and troublesome youth group involvement. It presents the theoretical framework of the model, including the effects of ecological context, family bonds, school bonds, and negative life events on moral sense and risky lifestyles. Path analysis using Belgian data shows support for the model, with moral sense and risky lifestyles most directly linked to offending and troublesome group involvement.

1. Prof. Dr. Lieven J.R. Pauwels
t. +32 9 264 68 37
f. +32 9 264 84 94
Lieven.Pauwels @UGent.be
Breaking moral norms and troublesome
youth group involvement
Testing an integrative informal control-
lifestyle theory
Lieven Pauwels (IRCP-Ghent University)
Ann De Buck (IRCP-Ghent University)

2. research publications consultancy conferences
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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• (1) The integrated informal control – lifestyle
theory of youth offending and troublesome
youth group involvement
• (Osgood et al. 1996; Howdon, 1996; Hoeben & Weerman, 2016, Pauwels & Svensson, 2013; Svensson
& Pauwels 2010)
• (2) DATA (ISRD3-Belgium) & Analytical
Strategy
• (3) Results of Path Models
• (4) Implications and discussion
Structure of the presentation
2

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• Integrated theory of action (Pauwels & Hardyns, 2016)
• General theories vs MRT (Opp, 2009; Wikström et al.,2012)
• Research programme: comparing theories (Opp & Wippler, 1990)
• “Integrated and unequal is better”
• “Microfoundations: complex structural individualism aka systemism”
• Crime & PYG in systems as “situated choice”
• Composition (demographics, individual characteristics)
• Environment (context of development and context of action)
• Structures (bonds)
• Mechanisms (decision-rules: deliberative vs habitual mode)
• = Theoretical building blocks (“proto-theory”)
• This way of theorizing = Analytical criminology
• Highly informative and testable theories
Integrated informal control-lifestyle model
3

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• Accumulation of negative life-events
• Contexts of development (domain-specific risk accumulation) :
• Ecological context: neighborhood disorder, school crime
• Family bonds: attachment, disclosure, monitoring, control
• School bonds: school commitment, teacher-pupil relations & trust
• -> negatively affects the “moral sense”
• -> increases the likelihood of developing a risky lifestyle
• Lifestyles represent:
• exposure to situational inducements
• Is this general framework capable of explaining:
• Individual differences in offending?
• Individual differences in troublesome youth group involvement?
Integrated informal control-lifestyle model
4

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• Law-like situational mechanism:
• “The lower the moral sense, the higher the likelihood of exposure
to criminogenic settings.”
• Initial condition:
• “The higher the accumulation of risk factors in social bonds,
neighborhood conditions and strains, the lower the moral sense.”
• ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Explanandum: Why is the accumulation of domain specific risk
conditions related to differential involvement in offending and
troublesome youth groups?
Testable propositions (H-O-scheme)
5

6. 6
Ecological context
of development
Family context of
development
School context of
development
Negative life-
events
Moral
sense
Exposure
Troublesome
Youth Group
Offending
Conceptual model
BASIC IDEA: INDIRECT CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS

7. 7
Ecological context
of development
Family context of
development
School context of
development
Negative life-
events
Anticipated
shame
Exposure
Troublesome
Youth Group
Offending
Ability to resist
temptation &
provocation
Moral norms
Moral sense = multidimensional
Conceptual model
BASIC IDEA: INDIRECT CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• ISRD3 Belgian data (additional questions on school social bond
(teacher-pupil relations, locus of control, depression, …). See
theory of societal vulnerability (Vettenburg et al. 2013)
• Data collection:
• Technical report Flemish Region: Pauwels, Pleysier, Vettenburg (2015): Ghent & Aalst
• Technical report Walloon Region: Gavray (2015): Liège & Verviers
• School-based PAPI survey (pre-tested in 2013)
• N= 4758 (total sample)
Data
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9. Methods
• Mplus 7 (Muthén &
Muthén)
• SEM: combining linear and
non-linear modelling (log-
linear path models)
• Evaluation model fit:
RMSEA / CFI
• Measures:
• Cumulative measures for:
family social bond, school
social bond, ecological
context of development,
negative life events
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10. Results
10

11. 11
Ecological context
of development
Family context of
development
School context of
development
Negative life-
events
Low moral
sense
Exposure
Troublesome
Youth Group
Offending
0.26
0.28
0.23
0.08
0.16
0.22
0.28
0.11
0.17
0.49
0.46
0.29
0.39
Model Fit RMSEA: 0.045 CFI:0.98

12. 12
Ecological context
of development
Family context of
development
School context of
development
Negative life-
events
Anticipated
shame
Exposure
Troublesome
Youth Group
Offending
Ability to resist
temptation &
provocation
Moral norms
-0.11
-0.08
0.48
0.42
-0.17
-0.13
-0.25
-0.13
-0.18
-0.21
-0.23
-0.04
-0.08
-0.22
-0.10
-0.18
-0.23
Model fit: RMSEA: 0.042 CFI: 0.99
-0.22
-0.24
-0.17
-0.18
0.17

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• Similarities in the explanation of TYG and Offending
• Ecological contexts of development:
• Strong cumulative effects of social bonding mechanisms on the
moral sense
• Weak effect of negative life events on the “moral complex”
• Strongest direct effects of “moral complex and “risky lifestyles”
• Moral emotions have independent effect (cognition + affect, see
Van Gelder et al, 2013; Loewenstein, 2008)
• Further research into DUAL-PROCESS THEORIES of decision-
making during situational exposure
Summary of findings
13

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
Thank you for your attention! Any questions?
14

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Lieven J.R. Pauwels
+32 9 264 68 37
Lieven.PAuwels@UGent.be
• Agnew, R. (2011). Toward a unified criminology: Integrating assumptions about crime, people and
society. NYU Press.
• Bunge, M. (2000). Systemism: the alternative to individualism and holism. The Journal of Socio-
Economics, 29(2), 147-157.
• Hoeben, E. M., & Weerman, F. M. (2016). Why is involvement in unstructured socializing related to
adolescent delinquency?. Criminology, 54(2), 242-281.
• Pauwels, L., Hardyns, W. (2016). Problematic Youth Group Involvement as Situated Choice; Testing
an integrated Conditions-Controls-Exposure Model. The Hague: Eleven.
• Pauwels, L.J.R., Svensson, R. (2013). Violent Youth Group Involvement, Self-reported Offending and
Victimization: an Empirical Assessment of an Integrated Informal Control / Lifestyle Model,
European Journal of Criminal Policy & Research. 19 (4): 369–386
• Sapolsky, R. (2017) , The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.
• Svensson, R., Bruinsma, G., Pauwels, L.J.R, Bernasco, W. (2013). Moral emotions and offending: Do
feelings of anticipated shame and guilt mediate the effect of socialization on offending? European
Journal of Criminology, 10 (1): 22-39.
• Pauwels, L., Svensson, R (2009). Individual Differences In Adolescent Life Style Risk By Gender And
Ethnic Background: A Test in Two Urban Samples, European Journal of Criminology. 6 (1): 5-23.
• Wikstrom, P. O. H., & Butterworth, D. A. (2006). Adolescent Crime. Routledge.
• Wikström POH Oberwittler D Treiber K and Hardie B (2012) Breaking rules: The social and
situational dynamics of young people's urban crime: Oxford University Press.
• Wikström, P. O. H., & Sampson, R. J. (2003). Social mechanisms of community influences on crime
and pathways in criminality. Causes of conduct disorder and juvenile delinquency, 118-148.
References
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16. www.ircp.org
Contact
Lieven J.R. Pauwels
t. +32 9 264 68 37
f. +32 9 264 84 94
Lieven.Pauwels@UGent.be
IRCP
Ghent University
Universiteitstraat 4
B – 9000 Ghent