THE ROLE OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND SELF CONTROL IN PREDICTING CRIMINAL ATTITUDES

Abstract

Experiences of social exclusion are increasingly common among young adults navigating academic, peer, and social environments. Being ignored, rejected, or left out may appear subtle on the surface, yet such experiences can have meaningful psychological consequences. When individuals repeatedly perceive themselves as socially excluded, it may affect their emotional regulation, sense of belonging, and capacity to control impulses. Over time, these internal disruptions may influence attitudes toward social norms and rule-governed behavior. 

 Understanding the psychological mechanisms that link exclusion to deviant attitudes is therefore essential in contemporary youth research. The present study aims to examine the relationship between perceived social exclusion and criminal attitudes among young adults, with a particular focus on the mediating role of self-control. Drawing from Belongingness Theory, the General Theory of Crime, and the Psychological Need Threat Model, the study proposes that social exclusion may weaken self-regulatory capacities, which in turn may increase approval of rule-breaking behaviors.  

Rather than viewing criminal attitudes as isolated outcomes, this research attempts to understand the underlying psychological pathway through which social experiences shape behavioral tendencies. By investigating these relationships within an Indian young adult population, the study contributes to criminological psychology by integrating social and self-regulatory perspectives. The findings may offer implications for preventive interventions, campus counseling programs, and youth behavioral policy aimed at fostering inclusion and strengthening self-control capacities.