Citation

Newcomb MD, Mcgee L. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 1991; 61(4): 614-628.

Affiliation

Division of Counseling and Educational Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-0031.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1960653

Abstract

Indicators of a Sensation Seeking latent construct were assessed during adolescence and used to predict changes in repeatedly gathered measures of a latent construct of General Deviance. A community sample of 595 male and female Ss was assessed 3 times over a 5-year period from late adolescence to young adulthood. Most Ss reported use of licit drugs, about one half had tried illicit drugs, and a substantial minority had engaged in other delinquent or criminal activities. The General Deviance construct was stable over time, although specific cross-effects were found. Sensation Seeking was moderately correlated with General Deviance at all 3 levels but did not predict directly the General Deviance construct over time; the effects of Sensation Seeking on later deviant behavior and attitudes were specific rather than general.

Language: en