The Role of the Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Model in Predicting Negative Attitudes towards Delinquency in Students

This study aimed to investigate the predictive role of the affective and emotional composite temperament (AFECT) model concerning negative attitudes toward delinquency in secondary high school students.

This study was a descriptive- correlational investigation and its statistical population was all secondary high school students of Ardabil city. 221 students were selected using the multi- stage cluster sampling method. Data was collected by Affective and Emotional Temperament questionnaires, Lara (2012) and Questionnaire of Delinquency, Fazli (2010). Pearson correlation and stepwise regression were used to analyze data.

The results revealed that the anger, inhibition, and sensitivity of the AFECT model have a negative and significant relationship with a negative attitude towards delinquency, and control. Furthermore, coping has a significant positive relationship with negative attitudes towards delinquency. Among the affective temperaments, anxiety, obsession, euthymia, and hyperthermia have a positive and significant relationship with a negative attitude towards delinquency. Moreover, apathetic, cyclothymic, volatile, and euphoric had a negative and significant relationship with negative attitudes towards delinquency.

Our data have important implications for use of the AFECT model with the aim of identifying groups at risk of delinquency and can be used to design preventive interventions to reduce the occurrence of delinquent behavior in students.