NCJ Number
234957
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2011 Pages: 445-459
Date Published
May 2011
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study tested Gottfredson and Hirschi's stability theory in a non-Western society setting, specifically from a South Korean point of view.
Abstract
Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime has been widely tested. Yet one of their key hypothesesthe stability of self-controlhas received little attention from researchers, and no known study has examined the applicability of the stability hypothesis in a non-Western context. Given Gottfredson and Hirschi's claim that their low self-control theory transcends cultural and national boundaries, the authors tested the hypothesis with a nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents using 5-year panel data. Consistent with studies conducted in the United States, the results offer partial support for Gottfredson and Hirschi's stability hypothesis. The authors also provide comparative interpretations of their findings in the South Korean context. (Published Abstract)