本文旨在探討「求樂衝動性」是否爲促使兒童犯行延續至少年階段且趨於惡化的主因。研究一追蹤1,810位國小五年級學生至六年級的發展,各波段測量衝動性、特質、家庭因素及違犯行爲。研究發現,求樂衝動性與兒童犯行的持續性最有關係,其他衝動性(如情緒衝動性)、特質(如和善性)與家庭因素,對犯行之發展並無穩定效應。求樂衝動性可能透過對其他個性特質與教養方式的不良影響,而加深其對犯行發展的負面影響。研究二持續追蹤156位男生樣本至國中二年級,結果發現「求樂衝動性」愈高者,愈可能在國中階段遭警方逮捕。研究二也根據樣本自國小五年級至國中一年級的犯行,篩選出長期高違犯組與低違犯組總計60人,施予迷津、叫色及威斯康辛卡片分類測驗,發現長期高違犯組之行事較乏計畫性,且易陷於僵化錯誤反應。惟相較於管控功能缺陷,慾望管控缺陷(求樂衝動性)依然是長期高違犯組的主要特徵。研究發現對於自我控制論與性格理論之意涵,加以討論。
The longitudinal study aims to examine the role of impulsivity, executive function, traits, and family factors in leading to the persistence of externalizing behavior from childhood to adolescence. Study 1 adopted two-wave administrations of a questionnaire to 1,808 elementary school students from 5th to 6th Grade (aged about from 11 to12). Impulsivity, traits (such as agreeableness), family factors, and externalizing behaviors were measured on each wave. Longitudinal regression analysis showed that hedonistic impulsivity (the tendency to seek immediate gratification without considering the future consequence) was the only characteristic that could reliably predict the increase of externalizing behavior. Hedonistic impulsivity also could predict the negative development of other personality characteristics and the decrease of parental love. Study 2 followed up the development of 156 male students to the second-grade of junior high school. It was found that hedonistic impulsivity could predict the record of police arrest after enrolling in the junior high school. Even after the deficits of cognitive executive functions (such as the perseverative response tendency on the WCST test) are taken into account, hedonistic impulsivity (deficit of hot executive functions) was still the robust characteristic that could differentiate the persistent-deviance group from the good-boy group. The implications of the findings for both the theories of personality and the self-control theory of criminality were discussed.