Parents’ Internal Attributions about Misbehavior and Rule-Breaking Behavior in Boys

Abstract

Rule-breaking behaviors in boys are a precursor of juvenile delinquency and has negative consequences for perpetrators and victims. Therefore, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the development of rule-breaking behavior in boys. This study explored the association between parents’ internal attributions about rule-breaking behavior in boys, and whether this association is mediated by parents’ use of harsh discipline. Participants included 134 US parents of boys between 5 and 7 years old. Parents were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and completed an online survey. Internal attributions and harsh discipline were assessed through different scenarios displaying child misbehavior in which parents were asked to imagine their child acted in the way illustrated in the scenarios. Rule-breaking behavior was assessed through the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Overall, findings revealed a partial mediation effect. The more parents made internal attributions about their sons’ misbehavior, the more this was associated with harsh discipline, which in turn was associated with more rule-breaking behavior in boys. Therefore, interventions might benefit from strategies aimed at promoting constructive attributions about misbehavior and more appropriate discipline practices that may lead to a healthier development in children.