An Empirical Test of Social Information Processing Theory and Emotions in Violent Situations

Abstract: Criminological research has favored the rational choice perspective in studying offender decision making. However, this theoretical approach does not take into account the complex interplay of situational, cognitive, emotional, and person factors that likely influence criminal decision making. To that end, the current study examines decision making in high-risk-for-violence situations focusing on social information processing and emotional state variables. The current study utilizes a sample of 236 newly incarcerated jailed inmates who provide personal level data and situational reports of violent and avoided violence situations (n=466). Hierarchical generalized linear modeling (HGLM) is applied to analyze the data and the findings show that several situational, social information processing, and emotion variables, such as intent interpretation, goal, and response generation, are significant predictors of the escalation of violence.Keywords: decision making, emotions, situation, social information processing theory, theory, violenceINTRODUCTIONIn recent years, there has been a renewed interest in studying the situational components of crime (e.g., Horney 2006). Often grounded in symbolic interaction (Mead 1934), researchers from this perspective focus on a wide variety of situational (e.g., substance use, presence of bystanders, weapons), and personal factors (e.g., demographics), that influence situational outcomes (Birkbeck and LaFree 1993; Horney 2006; Sampson and Lauritsen 1994). This perspective has merit in that it allows researchers to examine traditional individual-level (or person-level) factors, while also examining how people interact with, and are influenced by, their current environment. Despite this interest, there has been a dearth of research regarding decision-making processes in these situations. Some researchers, in attempting to understand the escalation of violence, have argued that there is a cognitive stage where offenders interpret situational cues and/or decide on a course of action to pursue in that situation (e.g., Felson and Steadman 1983; Oliver 1994). However, to date, these stages have not received much empirical exploration.Traditionally, individual-level explanations for offending and decision-making in criminology have focused on the rational choice perspective. However, this perspective is challenged for being overly simplistic and: failing to account for (1) the complexity of decision making, (2) the role of high emotionality, and (3) environmental influences (Boudon 1998; De Haan and Vos 2003). For example, De Haan and Vos (2003) suggest that the rational choice perspective is too narrow. They also argue that individuals' actions are not the sole product of intention, but rather a social process outcome of complex decision making. Secondly, De Haan and Vos (2003) suggest that the rational choice perspective does not clarify the offenders' experiences before (or during) the offenses are committed. When this is neglected, opportunities to explain motive and thought processes are diminished. Rational choice assumes motivation but does not account for motivation (Jacobs and Wright 1999).Objective assessments of situations are difficult when rationality is bounded (Walsh 1986), when it simply does not exist (Jacobs and Wright 1999), or when it is compounded by emotions. Copious and objective responses may not be available due to the limited capabilities of individuals (Johnson and Payne 1986). Offenders' alternatives or choices are subjective; therefore, a rational, objective assessment of possible alternatives to committing a crime may not exist.Within this literature it has been a major obstacle to empirically identify decision making on an individual level since the underlying cognitive processes are not readily observable (Glockner and Betsch 2008). Despite this, researchers in psychology have attempted to articulate this process through decision-making theories of aggression, deviance, and criminal behavior. …