Effects of Age, Personality, and Gang-Affiliation on the Self-Reported False Confessions of Adjudicated Male Youth

False confession research conducted in the United States focuses largely on risk factors associated with confessions resulting from police interrogation. Until recently, limited resources have focused on the wrongful convictions of gang-affiliated individuals. Six hypotheses were examined regarding specific personality factors, as measured by the JEPQ; motivation toward taking the blame, as measured by the MTBS; and compliance, as measured by the GCS. Seventy-four adjudicated male youth self-reported whether or not they have made a false confession or whether they were gang-affiliated. The results of the current study indicate that adjudicated male youth who report taking the blame may be more compliant. Moreover, gang-affiliated participants were more willing to take the blame, specifically in order to protect someone else. Gang-affiliated participants also scored significantly higher on the JEPQ's Psychoticism scale. Lastly, high scores on the Neuroticism scale correlated significantly with the Excitement and Cover-Up motivations for taking the blame.