The objective of this project was to develop and validate a delinquency motivation inventory (DMI), an instrument to measure motives underlying delinquent behavior among young people, building on the conceptual framework of self-determination theory. In Study 1, young offenders (N = 140) completed a preliminary version of the DMI containing a large number of items. An exploratory factorial analysis was used to purge the DMI, retaining the most appropriate items for intrinsic motivation and for extrinsic motivation by integrated regulation, identification, introjection and external regulation. It was not possible to select items forming a distinct factor representing amotivation. The DMI was revised and expanded to remedy this deficiency. Study 2 (N = 254) tested the final version of the DMI (24 items; 4 subscale items) by means of a confirmatory factorial analysis and studied its construct validity and internal consistency. The results supported a structure of six factors corresponding to motivation types of the self-determination theory. The construct validity of the DMI was documented through correlation with several self-reported delinquent behaviours and various psychological variables (negative peer influence, disregard for moral norms, macho identity, masculinity ideology relationships, sadistic personality and antisocial personality). The internal consistency of the DMI subscales was considered acceptable. The results are discussed in terms of their fundamental, psychometric and applied effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
