The Impact of Impulsivity and Risk Taking on Crime Categories among Children in conflict with Law

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the role of impulsivity and risk-taking in differentiating crime categories among children in conflict with law in India. The objective was to examine whether these psychological traits predict the severity of crimes and to contribute to a nuanced understanding of juvenile offending for designing effective rehabilitation strategies. A quantitative, cross - sectional design was employed with data collected from 150 male juveniles aged 14 -18 residing in observation homes in Delhi, India. Impulsivity was measured using the Impulsiveness Scale (Rai & Sharma, 2013, Hindi version), and risk-taking was assessed with the Risk-Taking Inventory (Nimbalkar &Helode, ,2017, Hindi version). Analyses included Welch’s One-Way ANOVA and Multinomial Logistic Regression.The results indicated significant differences in impulsivity (F(2,98.0)=13.9,p<.001) and risk-taking (F(2,94.9)=4.39,p=0.015) across crime categories. Post hoc tests revealed that serious offenders showed lower impulsivity compared to petty and heinous offenders, while risk-taking was highest in petty crimes compared to the other two categories. Multinomial Logistic Regression Analyses confirmed impulsivity (χ2(2)=26.1, p<.001) and risk-taking (χ2(2)=9.98, p=0.007) as significant predictors of crime category. These findings demonstrate that impulsivity and risk-taking are critical psychological traits influencing juvenile criminal behavior. Incorporating these factors into juvenile justice assessments and interventions is essential. Tailored strategies focusing on impulse control and risk management may reduce recidivism and better support reintegration.