Publications [#362960] of Kenneth A. Dodge

Journal Articles

1. Dodge, KA; Bai, Y; Godwin, J; Lansford, JE; Bates, JE; Pettit, GS; Jones, D (2022). A defensive mindset: A pattern of social information processing that develops early and predicts life course outcomes.. Child development, 93(4), e357-e378. [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/12/31)

   Abstract:
   The hypothesis was tested that some children develop a defensive mindset that subsumes individual social information processing (SIP) steps, grows from early experiences, and guides long-term outcomes. In Study 1 (Fast Track [FT]), 463 age-5 children (45% girls; 43% Black) were first assessed in 1991 and followed through age 32 (83% retention). In Study 2 (Child Development Project [CDP]), 585 age-5 children (48% girls, 17% Black) were first assessed in 1987 and followed through age 34 (78% retention). In both studies, measures were collected of early adverse experiences, defensive mindset and SIP, and adult outcomes. Across both studies, a robust latent construct of school-age defensive mindset was validated empirically (comparative fit index = .99 in each study) and found to mediate the impact of early child abuse (38% in FT and 29% in CDP of total effect) and peer social rejection (14% in FT and 7% in CDP of total effect) on adult incarceration.