The Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Moral Disengagement and Cybercrime among Cybercrime Prisoners from Selected Prisons in Lagos and Edo States, Nigeria

Francis Ehiamhen Obaweiki, Ph.D., Catholic University of East Africa; Margaret Njoroge, Ph.D., United States International University – Africa; Anne Kanga, Ph.D., Catholic University of East Africa

Abstract

Cybercrime among the youth has been identified as a global and progressive crime which poses a threat to individuals, corporate organizations and government institutions. The nature of cybercrime activities is an indicator of Bandura’s (2016) moral disengagement which helps individuals to behave in harmful ways while retaining a virtuous self-view. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of demographic factors on the moral disengagement and internet fraud among cybercrime prisoners. The study was anchored on Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Correlational survey design was used with a target population of 250 cybercrime prisoners aged between 21 and 35 years old. The sample size was 231 inmates selected through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected using Moral Disengagement Scale with reliability coefficient .962, and Cybercrime Questionnaire with reliability coefficient .956. Data from 195 participants were analyzed for descriptive statistics, using the statistical package for social sciences version 22 analyses. Results indicated that age, gender, education attainment, employment status, and recidivism had a strong influence on moral disengagement and involvement in cybercrime among the sample. Also, advantageous comparison was the most used moral disengagement mechanism, while internet fraud was the dominant variant of cybercrime among the sample. The findings could be relevant in developing a holistic preventive and remedial approach to tackling the problem of moral disengagement and cybercrime among youth in Nigeria. Psychologists, especially those working with youth and in correctional facilities could use the findings to come up with treatment plans for adolescents and youth in order to mitigate the individual determinants of moral disengagement and cybercrime in the country.

Keywords: moral disengagement, age, gender, education attainment, employment status, cybercrime, prisoners