Citation

Liau AK, Barriga AQ, Gibbs JC. Aggressive Behav. 1998; 24(5): 335-346.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study addressed the relations between cognitive distortions (inaccurate thoughts, attitudes, or beliefs) and antisocial behavior that is either overt/confrontational (e.g., fighting) or covert/nonconfrontational (e.g., stealing). A controlled analysis of 52 male delinquents and a comparison sample of 51 high school students aged 14-18 years found the delinquents to be higher in both cognitive distortions and self-reported antisocial behavior. Furthermore, cognitive distortion related specifically to overt and covert antisocial behavior in both samples. In particular, cognitive distortion having overt antisocial behavior as its referent (e.g., "People need to be roughed up once in a while") evidenced a significant path to overt but not covert antisocial behavior Conversely, covert-referential cognitive distortion (e.g, "If someone is careless enough to lose a wallet, they deserve to have it stolen") evidenced a significant path to covert but not overt antisocial behavior. The theoretical and treatment implications of the findings are discussed.