Prosocial Rule-Breakers and the Law

Dive into the forefront of legal socialization research with this groundbreaking study challenging the prevailing definition of rule-breaking as exclusively harmful or antisocial behavior. While legal socialization models traditionally focus on preventing criminal behavior, this research recognizes the need to distinguish prosocial rule-breaking-motivated by intentions aligned with societal benefits-from its antisocial counterpart.



Across three studies, the author introduces a novel scale measuring moral and legal alignment, validating the distinction between morality and legality. Study 1 lays the foundation with the development of this unique scale. In Study 2, the scale's validation continues, demonstrating its predictive ability within the integrated cognitive model of legal socialization. Employing a cross-sectional within-subjects experimental design, Study 2 differentiates between prosocial and antisocial rule-breaking, revealing the nuanced predictors according to the integrated cognitive model and the procedural justice model of legal socialization.