Criminal Friends' Influence on Criminal Behavior of Adult Offenders Moderated by Psychopathic Traits

Criminal friends' influence on offender's own criminal behaviour is well documented (Rokven, Boer, Tolsma & Ruiter, 2017). However, little is known about the moderator of criminal friends' influence (Kerr, Zalk, & Stattin, 2012). Aim of present study was to examine psychopathic traits of offenders as moderators of criminal friends' influence on criminal behaviour. Sequential moderated regression analysis was used to assess the data. Levenson's Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-Revised Urdu Version and Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates were administered to a sample of adult criminal offenders (N=342). In the present study, three dimensions of psychopathic personality: egocentricity, callousness, and antisocial traits were examined as a moderator. In terms of moderating role of psychopathy, offenders who were high on antisocial traits were more strongly influenced by their criminal friends whereas high levels of egocentricity moderated the positive relationship between criminal friends' influences and criminal behaviour. Present study is the first study in Pakistan to look at this relationship by assessing three dimensions of psychopathy. Therefore, it advances the knowledge about the influence of criminal friends on offender's own criminal behaviour. Additionally, the study also contributed to the literature by looking at the moderating effects of three dimensions of psychopathy between criminal friends' influence and criminal behaviour of adult offenders.