This study sought to explore the underlying dimension(s) of the criminal attitude construct. Exploratory factor analyses using an oblique rotation method were conducted separately on the subscales of the Criminal Sentiments Scale–Modified among a sample of 381 violent male offenders. These procedures yielded four factors reflecting generic criminal attitudes, specific attitudes about the law, generic rationalizations consistent with criminal subcultures, and criminally oriented self-views (i.e., a criminal self-concept). Confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling found these factors to be relatively robust. Supplemental analyses revealed the factors were linked to criminal conduct outcome criteria. These results are discussed in terms of potential future theory, research, and practice of the criminal attitude construct.
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