examining low self-control theory at mardi gras: critiquing the general theory of crime within the framework of normative deviance

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davis Redmon
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Mardi Gras ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Low Self Control

The General Theory of Crime and Computer Hacking

2011 ◽  
pp. 38-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Bossler ◽  
George W. Burruss
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Unauthorized Access ◽  
Computer Hacking ◽  
Computer Hackers ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Mainstream Society ◽  
Low Self Control

Though in recent years, a number of studies have been completed on hackers’ personality and communication traits by experts in the fields of psychology and criminology, a number of questions regarding this population remain. Does Gottfredson and Hirschi’s concept of low self-control predict the unauthorized access of computer systems? Do computer hackers have low levels of self-control, as has been found for other criminals in mainstream society? If low self-control can predict the commission of computer hacking, this finding would seem to support the generality argument of self-control theory and imply that computer hacking and other forms of cybercrime are substantively similar to terrestrial crime. This chapter focuses on the results of a study where we examined whether Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime is applicable to computer hacking in a college sample.

The General Theory of Crime and Computer Hacking

Cyber Crime ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. 1499-1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Bossler ◽  
George W. Burruss
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Unauthorized Access ◽  
Computer Hacking ◽  
Computer Hackers ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Mainstream Society ◽  
Low Self Control

Though in recent years, a number of studies have been completed on hackers’ personality and communication traits by experts in the fields of psychology and criminology, a number of questions regarding this population remain. Does Gottfredson and Hirschi’s concept of low self-control predict the unauthorized access of computer systems? Do computer hackers have low levels of self-control, as has been found for other criminals in mainstream society? If low self-control can predict the commission of computer hacking, this finding would seem to support the generality argument of self-control theory and imply that computer hacking and other forms of cybercrime are substantively similar to terrestrial crime. This chapter focuses on the results of a study where we examined whether Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime is applicable to computer hacking in a college sample.

Self-Control Theory and Crime

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gottfredson
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
General Theory ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Problem Behaviors ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Serious Offenders ◽  
Gottfredson And Hirschi

Gottfredson and Hirschi advanced self-control theory in 1990 as part of their general theory of crime. Self-control is defined as the ability to forego acts that provide immediate or near-term pleasures, but that also have negative consequences for the actor, and as the ability to act in favor of longer-term interests. An individual’s level of self-control is influenced by family or other caregiver behavior early in life. Once established, differences in self-control affect the likelihood of delinquency in childhood and adolescence and crime in later life. Persons with relatively high levels of self-control do better in school, have stronger job prospects, establish more stable interpersonal relationships, and attain higher income and better health outcomes. Self-control theory was initially constructed to reconcile the age, generality, and stability findings of criminological research with the standard assumptions of control theory. As such, it acknowledges the general decline in crime with age, versatility in types of problem behaviors engaged in by delinquents and offenders, and the generally stable individual differences in the tendency to engage in delinquency and crime over one’s life-course. Self-control theory applies to a wide variety of illegal behaviors (most crimes) and to many noncrime problem behaviors, including school problems, accidents, and substance abuse. A considerable amount of research has been undertaken on self-control theory and on Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime. As a result, self-control theory is likely the most heavily researched perspective in criminology during the past 30 years. Most reviews find substantial empirical support for the principal positions of the theory, including the relationship between levels of self-control and delinquency, crime, and other problem behaviors. These relationships appear to be strong throughout life, among most groups of people, types of crime, in the United States and other countries, and over time. The posited important role of the family in the genesis of self-control is consistent with substantial bodies of research, although some researchers argue in favor of important genetic components for self-control. The theory’s expectations about the age distribution of crime, versatility of offending, and stability of individual differences over long periods of time also receive substantial support. Researchers have long studied variations in age effects, particularly seeking continuously high levels of offending for the most serious offenders, but reviewers have found that the evidence for meaningful variability is not convincing. For public policy, self-control theory argues that the most promising approach for crime reduction focuses primarily on prevention, especially in early childhood, and secondarily on situational prevention for specific types of crimes. Gottfredson and Hirschi argue that self-control theory is inconsistent with reliance on the criminal justice system to affect crime levels. On the one hand, general reviews of the empirical literature on deterrence and incapacitation support the expectations of self-control theory by finding little support for severity of sanctions, sanctions long removed from the act, and selective incapacitation for “serious offenders.” On the other hand, experimental studies from education, psychology, and criminology generally support the idea that early-childhood family and educational environments can be altered to enhance self-control and lower expected delinquency, crime, and other problem behaviors later in life.

Can the General Theory of Crime and General Strain Theory Explain Cyberbullying Perpetration?

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 674-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Lianos ◽  
Andrew McGrath
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
General Strain Theory ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Strain Theory ◽  
Self Control ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
General Strain ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
The Relationship

Cyberbullying is an increasingly common characteristic of contemporary online communication. The current study surveyed 320 Internet-active young adults and found up to 80% reported engaging in this behavior at least once. In addition, the ability of the general theory of crime and general strain theory to explain cyberbullying perpetration was tested. Evidence for both theories was observed, with both low self-control and higher levels of strain related to cyberbullying perpetration. Furthermore, opportunity (operationalized as moderate and high number of hours online) interacted with low self-control to increase perpetration, and anger partially mediated the relationship between strain and cyberbullying. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Methods and Measures in Testing a General Theory of Crime

2019 ◽  
pp. 31-50
Author(s):  
Michael Gottfredson ◽  
Travis Hirschi
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Control Theory ◽  
Behavioral Science ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Theory Testing ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Prior Record ◽  
Theory Of Crime

Self control is a consistent, robust, and substantial cause of crime, and the foundational facts and other dimensions of the self-control theory of crime have found remarkable support in behavioral science. However, not all scholars view the evidence in the same way, and there have been several challenges to the expectations of the theory that merit consideration. Some of these challenges are important for what they say about the limits and contours of the theory; others are important for what they say about the process of theory testing in modern criminology. This chapter discusses methodological issues in testing general theories in criminology. This is followed by a discussion on how to conceptualize control variables and antecedent causes for research. Next, the scope and domain of a theory as relevant to its validity are discussed. In addition, the importance of the definitions of self control and crime is presented. The roles of prior record and of versatility in theory testing are then examined. Finally, a discussion of the tautology issue in self-control theory is presented.

Revisiting the Concept of Stability in the General Theory of Crime

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 739-769
Author(s):  
Stacey Nofziger ◽  
Taylor Johnson
Keyword(s):  
General Theory ◽  
Deviant Behavior ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
General Theory Of Crime ◽  
Theory Of Crime ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Low Self Control ◽  
The Life Course

The general theory proposes that self-control exerts a relatively stable effect on behaviors across the life course. Most studies have examined the stability of self-control itself, rather than whether it leads to persistent patterns of offending that differ between low and high self-control groups. This article examines this alternative idea of stability by tracing patterns of offending over time. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth—Child and Young Adult Data, we find that the level of childhood self-control predicts deviance in every age group. The patterns of offending indicate there are stable differences, with low self-control leading to involvement in a greater range of deviant behavior at every age. The theoretical and policy implications of this stability are discussed.

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