Researcher ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6279-4254
Graduation Year
2025
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Psychology
Reader 1
Jennifer Groscup
Reader 2
Egamaria Alacam
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2024 Lacy M Parrett
Abstract
Little is known about the cognitions of those who commit violent crimes; even less is known about the justification process of those who reoffend after completing a prison sentence. The proposed study suggests analyzing the moral disengagement strategies and personality traits of incarcerated adults to identify recidivism risk factors. Current literature indicates that nonhomicide violent offenders’ use of moral disengagement cognitions that justify the violation of socially accepted morals will moderate the relationship between psychopathic, Machiavellian, and narcissistic personality traits and offenders’ risks of recidivating. Furthermore, it is anticipated that an interaction will exist between moral disengagement and this so-called dark triad of personality traits, with distinct patterns of dark triadic personality traits and moral disengagement strategies showing simple effects. However, it is expected that the greatest recidivism risk will emerge among dark morally disengaged offenders with psychopathic personality traits who use the moral disengagement strategies comprised in the behavioral locus—euphemistic language, advantageous comparison, and moral justification. Findings from the proposed study will aid in constructing treatment programs that are effective at reducing recidivism by increasing the understanding of the adverse cognitive distortions of the justiceexperienced mind that are capable of overwhelming hardened societal moral standards.
Recommended Citation
Parrett, Lacy, "The Moral Justifications of the Justice-Experienced: Recidivism in Dark Triadic Morally Disengaging Offenders" (2025). Scripps Senior Theses. 2474.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/scripps_theses/2474
