Application of the theory of planned behavior to recidivism: The role of personal norm in predicting behavioral intentions of re-offending

The study is a partial application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to the prediction of young offenders' behavioral intentions to re-offend. Participants were 152 young offenders who were randomly selected and who completed a self-report questionnaire assessing the sociocognitive determinants of the TPB and personal norm. It was found that attitudes and perceived behavioral control are necessary factors for the prediction of intentions to re-offend; while personal norm contributed significantly, yet marginally. The TPB provides a parsimonious way to predict behavioral intentions to re-offend. Personal norm could be a variable that expands the model when it is applied to the prediction of young offenders' behavioral intentions to re-offend.