Content area
Abstract
This study was exploratory and examined the characteristics of individuals engaged in computer criminal activity. It was predicted that individuals who had engaged in illicit computer activity would have higher rates of differential association, differential reinforcement, and moral disengagement than non-criminals. It was also hypothesized that the combination of differential association, differential reinforcement, and moral disengagement better predict criminal computer behavior than either variable alone. In Phase 1 of the study, a comparative analysis was conducted on demographic data from 132 computer and general criminals. In phases 2 and 3, 112 Internet participants, and 36 general criminals participants completed the Computer Crime Index & Social Learning Questionnaire (Rogers, 2000), and the Paulhus Deception Scale (Paulhus, 1998). The hypotheses regarding differential association, differential reinforcement, and moral disengagement were supported. However, contrary to the predictions, the reduced model consisting of moral disengagement and differential association better predict criminal computer behavior. Additional exploratory analyses and the implications for future research are also discussed.
