Social Bonds, Self-Control, and Adult Criminality

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 584-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Morris ◽  
Jurg Gerber ◽  
Scott Menard
Keyword(s):  
Control Theory ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Family Study ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Original Theory ◽  
Youth Survey ◽  
The Impact

Recent modifications to self-control theory suggest that influential factors (bonds) equate to self-control in the calculation of whether or not to engage in deviant behavior. Hirschi argued that self-control should fare better as a theory when it is operationalized as the number and salience of an individual’s social bonds, rather than as a cognitive scale, or count of previous acts, as suggested by the original theory. This study extends the control theory literature by assessing the impact of redefined self-control, as well as attitudinal self-control, on adult criminal behavior. Data analyzed were from Waves 10 and 11 of the National Youth Survey Family Study. Findings suggest that both forms of self-control (new and old) are equivalently predictive of adult crime, yet it is unlikely that they are capturing the same phenomenon during adulthood. Implications for control theory are discussed.

Truancy in late elementary and early secondary education: The influence of social bonds and self-control— the TRAILS study

2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
René Veenstra ◽  
Siegwart Lindenberg ◽  
Frank Tinga ◽  
Johan Ormel
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Pubertal Development ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Prosocial Orientation ◽  
The Impact

Some pupils already show unexcused, illegal, surreptitious absences in elementary education or the first years of secondary education. Are weak social bonds (see also Hirschi, 1969) and a lack of self-control (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) indicative of truancy at an early age? Of the children in our sample, 5% were persistent truants in late elementary education and early secondary education. Using multivariate analyses the influence of various predictors on persistent truancy was examined. Lack of attachment to norm-relevant significant others (parents and teachers) and lack of prosocial orientation were indicative of truancy. Social bonds with classmates had no effect on truancy. Other risk factors for truancy were: being a boy, early pubertal development, family breakup, and low socio-economic status. The effect of self-control on truancy was partially mediated by social bonds. The impact of social bonds to norm-relevant significant others suggests that early truancy can partly be prevented by focusing on children’s relations with parents at home and with teachers at school. Prevention of truancy is desirable because the likelihood of involvement in other deviant behavior increases for truants.

The role of adverse childhood experiences, self control and Dark Triad in the development of criminal behaviour. Correlative and differential aspects

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-37
Author(s):  
Bogdan-Ioan Merlușcă ◽  
Alina Chiracu
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood Events ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.

The role of adverse childhood experiences, self control and Dark Triad in the development of criminal behaviour. Correlative and differential aspects

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-37
Author(s):  
Bogdan-Ioan Merlușcă ◽  
Alina Chiracu
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Dark Triad ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Adverse Childhood Events ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
The Impact

This research consists of two studies that aimed primarily on identifying the links between adverse childhood experiences, the level of self-control, the „dark” personality traits, and also their relationship with criminal behavior. In the first study we aimed to establish a relationship between all the variables. A sample of 232 psychology students participated in the research. They reported that they experienced a number of emotional adverse events in their childhood, and these events were positively associated with low levels of self-control and dark personality traits. The second study aimed to replicate the results obtained in the first study. Furthermore, we want to see the differences related to these variables between inmates and psychology students. In this study participated 87 inmates and 87 psychology students. The results showed that inmates predominantly experienced adverse childhood events of a physical nature, while students predominantly experienced adverse emotional events. It has been shown that psychopathy has been positively associated with offending behavior and the high frequency of adverse childhood events. The low level of self-control has been positively associated with adverse childhood events and negative personality traits. Further studies are needed in order to establish students' sensitivity thresholds in relation to adverse childhood events and to clarify the impact these events have had on students.

Maternal incarceration penalty: an examination of the effect of maternal conviction and incarceration on childhood delinquency

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen N. Sobba ◽  
Brenda Prochaska ◽  
Emily Berthelot
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
Property Destruction ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Several studies have reported the impact of paternal incarceration and criminal behavior on childhood delinquency; however, fewer studies have addressed the influence of maternal criminality on children’s behavioral outcomes. Integrating self-control and attachment theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this paper is to address the impact of mothers who have been stopped, arrested, convicted, and incarcerated in relation to their children’s delinquent behavior. Design/methodology/approach The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing data set was used to better understand this relationship. By using binary logistic regression, two types of delinquent behavior were assessed: destroying property and fighting. Findings The results revealed that mothers’ criminal behavior affected children’s fighting tendencies but did not significantly impact children’s tendency to destroy property. Furthermore, certain childhood antisocial traits and demographic characteristics revealed to also impact children’s delinquent behavior. From the results, implications and prevention strategies were drawn describing techniques to combat delinquency. Originality/value This research lays a foundation for future researchers to explore mother-child attachment and the transmission of low self-control from mother to child in relation to criminality. The current research is one of the first studies to specifically address how maternal criminal behavior affects their children’s tendency to engage in delinquency, specifically examining property destruction and fighting.

The Weak Strength of Social Control Theory

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Control Theory ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Social Control Theory ◽  
Youth Survey ◽  
The Impact

A reanalysis of self-reported delinquency data from the Richmond Youth Survey indicates that social control theory has only limited explanatory power. The analysis confirms a prediction of strain theory, although strain theory, too, has limited explanatory power. The impact of Hirschi's Causes of Delinquency may have been due as much to its ideological appeal as to the strength of the evidence that it presented in support of social control theory.

The Interaction Between Self-Control and Perceived Sanction Risk: An Analysis From the Viewpoint of Different Theories

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Hirtenlehner
Keyword(s):  
Adult Development ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Action Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Young Adult Development ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
The Impact

The present article studies the interplay of self-control and perceived sanction risk in crime causation. Several hypotheses are formulated. The General Theory of Crime suggests that sanction certainty effects are greater for individuals of high self-control. Their inability to devote thought to the negative long-term consequences of their behavior renders persons characterized by low self-control immune to the risk of formal punishment. From Situational Action Theory (SAT), it follows that sanction certainty effects are larger for persons with low self-control ability. Individuals with a poor capacity for self-control will more often feel tempted to engage in criminal behavior, which brings perceived sanction risk into play as a potential deterrent. The theory’s emphasis on the moral filter as a determinant of the nature of the perceived action alternatives implies additionally that the self-control/deterrence interaction may be stronger for those holding weak law-consistent moral beliefs. The various hypotheses are tested using longitudinal data from the British Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development Study. Results provide more support for the propositions derived from SAT. An individual’s level of self-control conditions the impact of perceived sanction risk, with sanction certainty estimates being most influential among adolescents of low self-control. There is also some indication of a three-way interaction according to which the observed interplay of self-control and deterrence is most pronounced among persons characterized by weak morality.

The Influence of Adolescent Substance Use and Socialization on Deviant Behavior in Young Adulthood

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
SYBILLE M. GUY ◽  
GENE M. SMITH ◽  
P. M. BENTLER
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Adolescent Substance Use ◽  
Adolescent Substance ◽  
Adolescent Drug Use ◽  
Interpersonal Aggression ◽  
The Impact

This study examined the impact of adolescent substance use on adult substance use and criminal behavior. Longitudinal data from 657 participants were assessed over 12 years (1969-1981). Latent variable models were used to determine what effect, if any, adolescent drug use had on later deviance. In addition, constructs relevant to traditional theories of social control, such as the extent of socialization and obedience to rules, were also included as predictors. The results showed that a general drug use factor in adolescence significantly predicted adult illicit substance use, theft, and interpersonal aggression. Drug-related accidents (automobile and other) were also predicted from adolescent drug use. These findings are consistent with several theories suggesting that different forms of deviance may influence each other over time.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Self-Control Measures and Drug and Alcohol Use among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 31-53
Author(s):  
Brooke Mathna ◽  
Jennifer Roberts ◽  
Marthinus Koen
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Alcohol Behaviors ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Drug And Alcohol

Research has shown a link between drug and alcohol behaviors and self-control; however, much of the research focuses on only the general theory of crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990), without regard to Hirschi’s (2004) self-control theory. The purpose of the current study is to examine three measures of Hirschi’s self-control theory and to understand the link between Hirschi’s self-control theory and drug and alcohol behaviors. This study draws from a sample of undergraduate college students (N = 640) to examine the role of Hirschi’s self-control in the explanation of drug and alcohol behaviors. The current study uses a previous measure of Hirschi’s self-control [i.e., decisional self-control (alcohol)] and two measures (i.e., decisional self-control (cheat) and bond-based self-control) created by the researchers to analyze drug and alcohol behaviors. Results indicated that self-control based in social bonds (i.e., bond-based self-control) was significantly related to all drug and alcohol behaviors. The cost/salience scale measuring cheating behaviors [i.e., decisional self-control (cheat)] was significantly related to marijuana/hashish use, and the cost/salience scale measuring drinking and driving [i.e., decisional self-control (alcohol)] was significantly related to zero drug and alcohol behaviors. Results indicate that developing strong social bonds as a form of self-control can reduce the likelihood of drug and alcohol behaviors.

Race, Self-Control, and Drug Problems among Jail Inmates

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer De Li
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Criminal Behavior ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Jail Inmates ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Drug Problems ◽  
The Impact

The main objectives of this study are to test racial differences in self-control and race-specific effects of self-control on drug-related problems. On the basis of prior research, it is hypothesized that both self-control and its effect on drug-related behavioral problems vary by race. Data collected from White, Black, and Hispanic inmates incarcerated in five local jails in the greater Philadelphia area were used to test these hypotheses. The results indicate significant racial differences in levels of self-control. However, the impact of self-control on drug problems did not differ significantly among the three racial groups. Overall, the findings support the argument of the general theory of crime that self-control maintains a constant and positive effect on deviant and criminal behavior across racial groups.

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