NCJ Number
178778
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 633-654
Date Published
1999
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article introduces and tests the theory that low self-control, a factor used to explain offending, also is a reason why offenders are at high risk of being victims of crime.
Abstract
The article reformulates self-control theory into a theory of vulnerability and tests several of its hypotheses, using data from a survey administered to a sample of college students. The research investigated how well self-control explains various forms of victimization, and the extent to which self-control mediates the effects of gender and family income on victimization. Low self-control significantly increased the odds of both personal and property victimization and substantially reduced the effects of gender and income. When criminal behavior was controlled, the self-control measure still had a significant direct effect on victimization. Self-control theory can offer guidance about specifying in advance the lifestyle/routine activity indicators that carry risk of victimization. Notes, tables, references, appendixes