ABSTRACT The current study examines registration data from the Dutch police pertaining to 2,757 individuals and 10 different crime categories, at the offense, individual, and network levels of analysis. Moreover, a novel estimate is introduced which identifies individuals’ tendency to operate as mentors or mentees in criminal networks. We find co-offending to be conditional on the type of crime and to typically involve groups of two to three offenders. Moreover, we find that men and those aged 18–25 are most likely to co-offend and that co-offenders typically do not show a preference for particular co-offenders. Individuals with central positions in the co-offending network were found to be older and to offend more frequently with a higher average of co-offenders per offense, than those less central. Lastly, we find the novel estimate to be a promising tool for identifying mentor and mentee roles in large quantitative network data. The results of the current study emphasize the importance of studying co-offending on different analytical levels, and to differentiate co-offending by different crime types, network positions, and individual roles, to better inform theory and policy.

ABSTRACT Existing research reveals that early child abuse victimization and substance use and misuse in adulthood have a major relationship. To enhance the understanding of the relationship, we proposed models linking child abuse victimization to substance use and misuse later in life through a social learning process and a psychological strain process channeled through deviant peer association, perceived harms of substance use, self-esteem, and psychological distress. Using data from a probability sample of 2,799 adults in a Chinese city, we conducted an SEM analysis to test the relationships among the conceptual constructs. Child abuse victimization exhibited positive and indirect effects on multiple forms of substance use and misuse, including frequency of tobacco use, frequency of binge drinking, and illicit drug use. Deviant peer association and perceived harms of substance use mediated all effects of child abuse victimization on substance use and misuse in adulthood. Self-esteem and psychological distress, however, played varied roles in the mediating processes. Overall, child abuse victimization demonstrated a significant indirect effect on substance use and misuse in adulthood. To understand whether child abuse victimization is related to substance use behavior in adulthood, examining the indirect links between child abuse victimization and substance use and misuse is critical.

ABSTRACT The Spanish pay for sex scene has varied significantly in the last decades and most of the European literature has focused on the active role of women in human trafficking networks. However, there is scarce research examining the stories of women holding managerial positions in the pay for sex organizations in the South of Europe. By questioning the often binarized perceptions of the madams, this study aims to demonstrate the distinct roles that female decision-makers in the brothels can occupy. Data comes from two samples of business owners and traffickers. Research methods include qualitative techniques such as in-depth interviews, informal interviews and ethnographic observations. By combining the analyzed data with the previous literature, a Mediterranean model of madams is proposed. Results show the need for more critical research analyzing the experiences of women with significant roles in the Southern European sex market.

ABSTRACT This exploratory study asked 86 emerging adults with criminal legal involvement – ages 18–25 – about their social network characteristics, relationship and support perceptions, mental health, and substance use. Social networks were seen as positive sources of support and advice. A higher proportion of alcohol consumers in one’s social network was linked to alcohol and marijuana misuse. Individuals with mental illness had more substance users in their social network. Social network characteristics were not linked to receiving mental health services. Future research should explore strategies to identify risk factors within social networks while acknowledging the supportive role of social networks.

ABSTRACT Objectives To examine the relationship between social support and aggression among male juvenile delinquents and the mediating role of mindfulness and self-control/impulsivity. Methods A total of 530 male juvenile delinquents completed the Social Support Rating Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Self-Control Scale, the Aggression Questionnaire, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Results The total effect of social support on aggression was significant (β= −0.24, p < 0.001, Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.38, −0.19]). Social support affected individual aggression through the following five paths: (1) social support → trait mindfulness → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.07, −0.01]); (2) social support → self-control → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.18, −0.08]); (3) social support →impulsivity → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.12, −0.05]); (4) social support → trait mindfulness → self-control → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.07, −0.01]); (5) social support → trait mindfulness →impulsivity → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.03, −0.01]), indicating that these five mediating effects were significant. Conclusions It suggests that social support is associated with aggression among male juvenile delinquents. Social support is negatively correlated with aggression through multiple mediating effects of mindfulness, self-control, and impulsivity.

ABSTRACT This study examines the prevalence and effects of hate speech propagation on WhatsApp groups in Nigeria. It also explores the role of WhatsApp group administrators (WGAs) in regulating it. Online passive participant observation method was used to collect data from sixteen purposively selected WhatsApp groups in Nigeria. Results indicate a high prevalence of gender, religious, political and ethnic hate speech in majority of the sampled WhatsApp groups. It also shows that hate speech generates tension and conflict among WhatsApp group participants. Moreover, the study reveals that most WGAs applied punitive measures against hate speech propagators. The findings advance the emerging area of online hate speech and brings to fore the conflict resolution, peacebuilding and third-party policing potentials of WhatsApp group administrators.

ABSTRACT Introduction The illicit manufacture and use of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) have increased. The underground market continues to meet consumer demands amidst evolving cultural narratives around most alluring IPEDs. This qualitative study aimed to provide insights into how IPED suppliers perceive demands within the current market and their roles within it. Methods We interviewed four IPED suppliers in Australia regarding distribution challenges and market changes. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed, with immediate reflective notes taken after each interview. Inductive line-by-line analysis facilitated identification and development of themes. Results Cultural narratives were perceived to influence the demand for several drugs (e.g. trenbolone, dihydroboldenone, fluoxymesterone) due to their perceived desirability and elevated status compared to other compounds. Consumers, who appeared to demonstrate knowledge gaps, were sometimes guided in their consumption practices by IPED suppliers, who drifted into a “hybrid” role of coach-supplier. Discussion IPED suppliers highlighted a perceived demand for specific AAS, driven by cultural narratives. Consequently, IPED suppliers assumed a hybrid role whereby they provide advice to the people who purchase IPEDs at point-of-sale. Urgent action is needed to address cultural narratives and provide education and harm reduction to support people who use IPEDs.

ABSTRACT Paternal love plays a crucial role in a child’s moral sensitivity. Previous studies in psychology focused on exploring the relationship between mother figures and their children’s moral development, while there needed to be more research on paternal love. Moreover, the potential path by which father-love absence affects an individual’s moral sensitivity is still unclear. Thus, based on social learning theory, we explored the mediating roles of awe and perspective-taking in the relationship between the lack of fatherly love and individuals’ moral sensitivity. 1,795 adolescents living in mainland China were recruited to participate in the study. They were asked to complete four different assessment scales, including the Father-Love Absence Scale (FLAS), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C Scale (IRI-C), the Dispositional Positive Emotion Scale (DPES), and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ). The results showed that, firstly, father-love absence directly negatively affected children’s moral sensitivity. Secondly, awe emotion mediated the effect of father-love absence on children’s moral sensitivity. Thirdly, perspective-taking ability mediated the effect of father-love absence on children’s moral sensitivity. This study provided theoretical support to explore factors in enhancing individuals’ moral sensitivity, such as inhibiting father-love absence by experiencing awe emotion and promoting the ability of perspective-taking.

ABSTRACT Wildlife crime has become a topic of international attention and concern over recent years, and women play a variety of roles in this gray economy. Utilizing qualitative investigation to gain insider accounts, this study examines women input in wildlife crime in communities neighboring a forest reserve in Nigeria. Findings show that bush-meat hunting, wood and timber harvesting are the most pervasive illegal trade in wildlife in the study area. While men mostly perform these trades, women play subordinate roles in the midst of several expressions of physical injuries plus psychological and sexual abuse. Findings show that these activities often provide better economic opportunities for poverty-afflicted women as most of them involve in the trade are unemployed and single-mothers trapped in the dilemma of extreme poverty and a resilient commitment to motherhood, wanting to give their children at least, a better life. The study concludes that women are active participants in illegal trade in wildlife and prevention approaches should involve but not limited to public services education and alternative livelihoods for women such as jobs, business start-ups, and sustainable agriculture.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to: (1) analyze differences between psychopathic and non-psychopathic offenders in terms of difficulties in emotion regulation and callous-unemotional traits, (2) investigate the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and callous-unemotional traits among psychopathic and non-psychopathic offenders, and (3) examine the mediation role of guilt in the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and callous-unemotional traits among non-psychopathic offenders, controlling for the level of desirable responses. The participants were 191 incarcerated male adult offenders serving their sentences in closed and semi-open custody. The incarcerated offenders participated in a semi-structured interview and completed self-report measures of emotion dysregulation, guilt, callous-unemotional traits, and social desirability. According to the results on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, 60 (27.9%) participants were included in the psychopathic group, while 131 (60.9%) were non-psychopathic. The results showed a positive relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation, callousness, and psychopathy. The multiple regression analysis indicated that guilt contributed to the variance of callousness. Guilt was a mediator in the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and callousness among the group of non-psychopathic incarcerated offenders. The current study highlighted the importance of guilt as an adaptive moral emotion useful in the treatment of several psychological problems among male offenders.