Date of Submission

4-26-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Patrick McGrady, Ph.D.

Keywords

Intergenerational Criminality, Familial Crime, Student Deviance, College Attendance, School Involvement, Socioeconomic Status

LCSH

College Attendance, Socioeconomic Status, Deviant behavior

Abstract

Previous research has established a link between parental criminality and crimes of offspring. Low socioeconomic status has also been established as a risk factor to criminal behavior. Trends show that most individuals who attend college are of a higher socioeconomic status and are therefore at a potentially lower risk of criminal offending. The goal of the present study is to determine whether familial criminality has an impact on the criminality of college students despite the mediating factor of school involvement. Fifty-seven undergraduate students completed a survey on criminality within their family, their individual histories of deviant behavior, and their level of school involvement. Correlational analyses were conducted on the relationship between college students' deviance and familial crime, as well as the relationship between student deviance and student involvement in school. Results found that students with higher levels of involvement in school demonstrate significantly less deviant behavior, regardless of familial crime. This study expands research on a well-known subject to an underresearched population who are considered less at risk for criminal behavior.

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