ABSTRACT
In the chapter, two more Central Eight risk/need factors, associates and attitudes, are reviewed.
The path to criminal associations begins with a family environment that fails to effectively monitor and supervise children and youth. As a result, young persons can easily fall under the influence of delinquents. Whether it is involvement in gangs or simply associating with other procriminal friends, youth learn procriminal attitudes and behaviors in these groups. Family and gang interventions that reduce procriminal association are reviewed and evaluated.
Cognitions (i.e., the decision of the self to act in a specific way) plays a central role in criminal behavior. Ultimately, the cause of behavior resides in the cognitions of the individual. People make a choice, and they are responsible for their choices. Sometimes we may not be fully aware of our decision to act because of the automatic nature of some behaviors, or impulsive-emotional reactions, or the disruption of thinking processes due to alcohol or other drugs. However, even in these situations, we can trace back in the chain of behavioral events to a point where an active choice was made that accounts for the present behavior.
