Low Self-Control and Fraud: Offending, Victimization, and Their Overlap

• NCJ Number: 229440
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 188-203
• Author(s): Kristy Holtfreter; Michael D. Reisig; Nicole Leeper Piquero; Alex R Piquero
• Date Published: February 2010
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the extent to which low self-control explained the overlap between fraud offending and exposure to victimization.

Abstract

Extant research demonstrates that offending and victim populations overlap to some degree, suggesting that a common underlying factor partially explains both outcomes. The current study tests whether low self-control explains the overlap in fraud offending and victimization exposure. Using cross-sectional survey data from a sample of undergraduate students (N = 305), the results from the regression models show that low self-control is associated with fraud offending. The findings also show that individuals with lower levels of self-control report that they are more likely to behave in ways that elevate their exposure to fraud victimization. Finally, in the fraud offending - victimization exposure multivariate models, the partial regression coefficient for low self-control is positive and statistically significant. In short, the findings demonstrate that the overlap between fraud offending and victimization exposure is partially explained by low self-control. (Published Abstract)