NCJ Number
224310
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 52 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 538-553
Date Published
October 2008
Length
16 pages
Annotation
In an attempt to ascertain self-control theory’s true validity, this study addressed recent concerns, included variables such as risk, consequences, criminal opportunity, an interaction term, and bond controls in one complete test, and addressed self-control’s ability to explain different forms of crime and whether the support that is has garnered has been exaggerated.
Abstract
Several findings clarify self-control’s ability to explain crime. First, self-control does not equally explain specific categories of crime, nor is it a universal predictor. Second, self-control’s explanatory power may be inflated. Third, consequences, risk, and opportunity attained significance in five of six equations in explaining crime. Study limitations and areas needing to be addressed in future studies are presented and discussed. Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) developed self-control theory. The theory argues that people who engage in criminality suffer from low self-control that is stable over time, is formed early in life, predisposes offenders to a life of crime, and is manifested in personality problems. More than 50 tests of the theory have been conducted, and it is one of the most influential theories of the past decade. However, despite supportive theory findings, issues remain unresolved. This study addressed recent concerns and included variables such as risk, consequences, criminal opportunity, and interaction term, and bond controls in one complete test of the theory. It addressed whether support for the theory is overstated by analyzing two waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), and it assessed the theory’s ability to explain different types of deviance. Tables and references