Self-control theory : an exploration of racial disparities in offending.

Parent–Child Relations and Delinquency Among African American and European American Juvenile Offenders: An Expanded Examination of Self-Control Theory

“…In general, results support the premise of self-control theory for European American adolescents but not African American adolescents. Specifically, self-control did not directly predict delinquency among African American adolescents, a finding contrary to assertions that self-control leads to delinquency among African American juveniles (Flexon et al, 2010, Hensley et al, 1999Vazsonyi & Crosswhite, 2004), yet aligning with research conducted by Burt et al (2006), Higgins and Ricketts (2005), Kirchner (2011), andUnnever et al (2006).…”

“…The current study is not the first to depart from a general theory to explain criminal behavior. Prior research has also observed self-control was not found to account for delinquency (Higgins & Ricketts, 2005;Kirchner, 2011), white-collar crime (Simpson & Piquero, 2002), and gender differences in offending (Shoenberger & Rocheleau, 2017). Further, when race/ethnicity is considered in models testing self-control theory, differential patterns between self-control and delinquency emerge.…”

“…Within Higgins and Ricketts's (2005) analysis of data from the National Evaluation of Gang Resistance and Education Training, low self-control did not affect delinquency for African American youth, yet was significant for European American youth. Additionally, Kirchner (2011) showed racial disparities in self-control and offending existed in a nationally representative sample. Recognizing that these results are in contradiction to Gottfriedson and Hirschi's (1990) theory, it has been contemplated that this theory may not be a general theory that explains delinquency among all groups (Higgins & Ricketts, 2005;LaGrange & Silverman, 1999).…”

“…Furthermore, African American youth are more likely to have positive outcomes following authoritarian parenting practices, whereas European American youth may have negative outcomes (e.g., increased delinquency) if they experience authoritarian parenting (Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Petit, 1996;Fix & Burkhart, 2015). Following Gottfredson and Hirshi's (1990) proclamation that dynamics of race/ethnicity may influence the pathway to delinquency in more nuanced manner than previously believed, findings suggest a need for research expanding our understanding of how race/ethnicity influences self-control through parenting practices needed (Kirchner, 2011).…”

“…Although select aspects of parenting have been examined as predictors of selfcontrol levels and delinquent behavior (e.g., Lu et al, 2013;Na & Paternoster, 2012), few studies have evaluated aspects of parent-child attachment (Higgins & Ricketts, 2005;Hoove et al, 2009;Kirchner, 2011). Moreover, understanding whether self-control and parenting impact delinquency in a similar fashion for all juveniles or are differentiated by race/ethnicity would more precisely describe the developmental course of the acquisition of self-control.…”