This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0306624X07308665v1 52/5/538    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal 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 Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Cretacci, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cretacci, M. A. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

A General Test of Self-Control Theory: Has Its Importance Been Exaggerated?

The State University of New York, College at Buffalo

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cretacma{at}buffalostate.edu.

	Abstract

Self-control theory has been tested for 2 decades. However, mixed results and measurement problems have made it difficult to ascertain its true utility. This study addresses recent concerns and includes variables such as risk, consequences, criminal opportunity, an interaction term, and bond controls in one complete test. It also addresses self-control’s ability to explain different forms of crime and whether the support that it has garnered has been exaggerated. Results of both cross-sectional and semilongitudinal tests indicate that self-control significantly predicts a higher probability of involvement in property and drug crime but is virtually silent in its ability to explain violence. Furthermore, it can be tentatively stated that support for the theory wanes over time. Finally, neglected concepts such as opportunity, risk, consequences, and bond controls may be important to the theory’s ability to explain crime, and further negligence of these concepts may hamper a true understanding of its impact.

First published on November 8, 2007, doi:10.1177/0306624X07308665

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 2008;52:538.

A more recent version of this article appeared on October 1, 2008


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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. R. Kerley, A. Hochstetler, and H. Copes Self-Control, Prison Victimization, and Prison Infractions Criminal Justice Review, December 1, 2009; 34(4): 553 - 568. [Abstract] [PDF]