A Culturally Nuanced Test of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s ‘‘General Theory’’: Dimensionality and Generalizability in Japan and the United States

Abstract

The current research addresses two specific issues that direct attention to the relatively neglected topic of the cross-cultural applicability of Gottfredson and Hirschi's ''general theory'' that has been developed in and tested primarily in the United States. With theoretical and empirical guidance from the literature on dimensionality of low self-control, we first predict that the six elements identified in the theory form a multidimensional latent construct in two diverse societies-Japan and the United States. Drawing on the literature concerning cultural variability in individualism, and inconsistent with self-control theory, the authors then expect that although low self-control leads to deviance in both societies, the causal relationship is stronger among Americans than among Japanese. Analysis of identical survey data collected simultaneously from college students in Japan and the United States provides somewhat mixed support for our expectations and the findings appear largely consistent with predictions by self-control theory.

Correlates and predictors of juvenile delinquency in Ghana

“…This finding suggests that impulsivity may not be as important in Ghana as it often appears in western studies, a finding that reinforces conclusions from self-report studies in nonwestern societies (Cheung & Cheung, 2008;Kobayashi et al, 2010). The unique and consistent relation between academic difficulties and juvenile delinquency highlight the importance of the school context and how juveniles' experiences with this institution are relevant to their behavior.…”

“…As recent studies elsewhere are beginning to show the influence of even "established" variables, such as impulsivity and low self-control, on delinquency can vary depending on the context. Kobayashi, Vazsonyi, Chen, and Sharp's (2010) comparative study of students from Japan and the United States revealed a weak relationship between low self-control and deviance in the Japanese context compared with the United States. Maldonado-Molina, Piquero, Jennings, Bird, and Canino, (2009) reported similar findings in a study of juveniles from Bronx in New York and San Juan in Puerto Rico in relation to sensation seeking and exposure to violence and frequent juvenile offending.…”

When West Meets East: Generalizing Theory and Expanding the Conceptual Toolkit of Criminology

“…See, for example, Aranha and Burress (2010), Chen (2004), Cheung and Cheung (2008), Kobayashi et al (2010), Liu (2011), Messner (2014), and Yun and Walsh (2011). …”

When West Meets East: Generalizing Theory and Expanding the Conceptual Toolkit of Criminology

“…According to SAT, crime causation ultimately entails a "perception-choice 1 The utility of comparing Asian and Western societies to develop criminological theory given the pronounced institutional and cultural differences has been widely recognized. See, for example, Aranha and Burress (2010), Chen (2004), Cheung and Cheung (2008), Kobayashi et al (2010), Liu (2011), Messner (2014, and Yun and Walsh (2011). 2 The research in cross-cultural psychology reviewed below focuses primarily on contrasts between the West and the East Asian societies of China, Japan, and Korea.…”