This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Beaver, K. M. Articles by Wright, J. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Beaver, K. M. Articles by Wright, J. P. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Evaluating the Effects of Birth Complications on Low Self-Control in a Sample of Twins

Division of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210388, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0389, USA

John Paul Wright

Division of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, 600 Dyer Hall, ML 0389 Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory has generated an abundance of research examining the effects of low self-control on crime and analogous behaviors. Less research, however, has focused on the factors that contribute to the development of low self-control. Gottfredson and Hirschi maintain that ineffective parents are the sole cause for the emergence of low self-control. At the same time, they disregard the possibility that low self-control has a biological or genetic component. This article extends prior research and examines the effects of birth complications and parental involvement on low self-control. Using a sample of twin children, the authors find that parental involvement is only weakly and inconsistently related to low self-control. On the other hand, although most of the birth complications had no appreciable effect on low self-control, anoxia (oxygen starvation) emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of low self-control.

Key Words: anoxia • birth complications • self-control • twins

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 49, No. 4, 450-471 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0306624X05274687


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Ratchford and K. M. Beaver Neuropsychological Deficits, Low Self-Control, and Delinquent Involvement: Toward a Biosocial Explanation of Delinquency Criminal Justice and Behavior, February 1, 2009; 36(2): 147 - 162. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. Beaver, J. Eagle Schutt, B. B. Boutwell, M. Ratchford, K. Roberts, and J.C. Barnes Genetic and Environmental Influences on Levels of Self-Control and Delinquent Peer Affiliation: Results from a Longitudinal Sample of Adolescent Twins Criminal Justice and Behavior, January 1, 2009; 36(1): 41 - 60. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. G. Vaughn, M. DeLisi, K. M. Beaver, and J. P. Wright Identifying Latent Classes of Behavioral Risk Based on Early Childhood: Manifestations of Self-Control Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, January 1, 2009; 7(1): 16 - 31. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. Cretacci A General Test of Self-Control Theory: Has Its Importance Been Exaggerated? Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol, October 1, 2008; 52(5): 538 - 553. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. Beaver, J. P. Wright, and M. Delisi Self-Control as an Executive Function: Reformulating Gottfredson and Hirschi's Parental Socialization Thesis Criminal Justice and Behavior, October 1, 2007; 34(10): 1345 - 1361. [Abstract] [PDF]