Sociocognitive self-regulatory mechanisms governing transgressive behavior

This longitudinal research examined a structural model of the self-regulato ry mechanisms governing transgressive conduct. Perceived academic and self- regulatory efficacy concurrently and longitudinally deterred transgressiven ess both directly and by fostering prosocialness and adherence to moral sel f-sanctions for harmful conduct. The impact of perceived social self-effica cy was mediated through prosocialness. Moral disengagement and prosocialnes s affected transgressiveness through the mediating influence of irascible a ffectivity and hostile rumination. Ruminative affectivity, in turn, both co ncurrently and longitudinally affected transgressiveness. Moral disengageme nt also contributed independently to variance in transgressiveness over tim e. This pattern of relations was obtained after controlling for prior trans gressiveness. The structural model was replicated across gender and provide d a better fit to the data than did several alternative models.