THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF GRASMICK et al.'s SELF‐CONTROL SCALE: A COMMENT ON LONGSHORE et al.*

Piquero, Alex R.; Rosay, André B.

doi:10.1111/j.1745-9125.1998.tb01244.x

Cited by 213 publications

(189 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…For example, laudable efforts at developing what is now referred to as the Grasmick's Low Self-Control Scale led Grasmick et al (1993) to conclude that ''the strongest case can be made for a one-factor unidimensional model'' (p. 17), although their results also suggest that the construct can actually subsume five distinct dimensions. In their analysis of the same data as those used by Longshore et al (1996), Piquero and Rosay (1998) similarly concluded that ''we have provided evidence that suggests that the self-control scale developed by Grasmick and his colleagues is a unidimensional construct that appears to come together in the same people'' (p. 169). This conclusion is in marked contrast to that made by Longshore et al (1996) who analyzed the same data to uncover evidence of a multidimensional construct of low self-control.…”

Section: Dimensionality Of Low Self-controlmentioning

confidence: 68%

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

Kobayashi

Vazsonyi

Chen

et al. 2010

International Criminal Justice Review

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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.

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Section: Dimensionality Of Low Self-controlmentioning

confidence: 68%

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

Kobayashi

Vazsonyi

Chen

et al. 2010

International Criminal Justice Review

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“…The authors used separate subfactors of personality items from a self-control scale, rather than the higher-order scale used in earlier research (Grasmick et aI., 1993). Although the results and their interpretation have led to some debate (see Piquero and Rosay's 1998 reanalysis, which arrives at an entirely different conclusion, based on the same data), Longshore et aI. 's analysis reveals distinctive male and female patterns in offending, and the authors con clude that the viability of low self-control as an explanation for female crime remains unresolved (1998:180).…”

Section: Theory and Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The issue of what, precisely, is embraced by the concept of low self control, and how it might best be measured, has been raised in several critiques of the theory (Akers, 1991;Barlow, 1991) and recently has become the subject of some empirical debate (Longshore et aI., 1998;Piquero and Rosay, 1998). Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990:90) contend that the low self-control individual is "impulsive, insensitive, physical (as opposed to mental), risk-taking, short-sighted, and nonverbal," although they offer little evidence to support this description, or their subsequent contention that "there is considerable tendency for these traits to come together in the same people."…”

Section: Measures Of Low Self-controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Self‐control and Opportunity: Testing the General Theory of Crime as an Explanation for Gender Differences in Delinquency*

1999

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This research tests Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime as an explanation for gender differences in the delinquency of approximately 2,000 Canadian secondary school students. Separate psychological factors, including a preference for risk seeking, impulsivity, temper, present oriented, and carelessness, are used as measures of self‐control, and additional measures of the construct are taken from the frequency of self‐reported smoking and drinking. Elements of delinquent opportunity are controlled for by including measures of parental/adult super‐vision. These measures and their interactions are used to predict self‐reported general delinquency, property offenses, violence, and drug offenses. Results provide partial support for the general theory, revealing relationships between measures of self‐control and delinquency that vary by magnitude across genders and for different offense types. Implications for the generality of the theory are discussed.

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“…These modifications to the LSC scale were consistent with modifications made in previous studies using this scale. 6,7,15,23 Criminal behavior, measured 6 months after baseline, was separated into two categories: those crimes that involved damage or theft of property and those crimes that involved violence directed at other individuals. The criminal behavior variables represent the number of different crimes within each category that each individual reported committing in the last 6 months.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Self-Control as a Multidimensional Predictor of Crime and Drug Use in Adolescents with Criminal Histories

Conner

Stein

Longshore

2008

J Behav Health Serv Res

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The general theory of crime posits that variability in propensities to engage in crime and deviance is partly a function of individual differences in low self-control (LSC). LSC is hypothesized to comprise of six subdomains: impulsiveness, preference for physical activities, risk seeking, self-centeredness, preference for simple tasks, and volatile temper. Using structural equation modeling, LSC was examined to determine if a global self-control measure or a multidimensional measure of its subdomains was a more salient predictor of violent and property crimes and drug use among adolescent male offenders (n=317). Only the multidimensional model adequately fit the data. Risk seeking predicted violent and property crimes, whereas volatile temper predicted violent crimes and drug use. The general theory of crime may obscure differences in the explanatory power of selfcontrol subfactors for specific types of crime, especially within at-risk youth. Findings have implications for effective interventions among adolescent males with criminal histories.According to the general theory of crime, 1 variation in the propensity to engage in crime and deviance is primarily a function of individual differences in self-control, which is conceptualized as a latent personality trait. Gottfredson and Hirschi 1 defined self-control as the degree to which a person is "vulnerable to the temptations of the moment" (p. 87) . Those that are more vulnerable to these temptations are described as having low self-control.Gottfredson and Hirschi 1 defined low self-control using six distinct characteristics: (1) the tendency to have a here-and-now orientation, preferring immediate reward with an inability to defer gratification, (2) a preference for physical rather than cognitive activities, (3) adventurousness and a preference for engaging in risky activities, (4) self-centeredness or insensitivity to the needs of others, (5) a preference for simple gratifications and avoidance of complex tasks, and (6) minimal tolerance for frustration, which is characterized as responding to conflict in a physical rather than verbal manner. Gottfredson and Hirschi 1 argued that low self-control arises from ineffective socialization early in life and is a stable trait that persists over the lifespan. Additionally, they view low self-control as the primary individual-level factor In order to measure an individual's level of self-control, Grasmick and colleagues developed the low self-control scale (LSC). 2 The LSC contains 24 items arranged into six subscales: impulsiveness, preference for physical activities, risk seeking, self-centeredness, preference for simple tasks, and volatile temper. These subscales represent interpretations by Grasmick and colleagues of the tenets of Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control construct. 1 Grasmick and colleagues' analyses of data collected during scale construction indicated that the LSC scale could not be explained by a single factor, but that a six factor solution was more appropriate. Despite this result, howe...

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THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF GRASMICK et al.'s SELF‐CONTROL SCALE: A COMMENT ON LONGSHORE et al.*

Cited by 213 publications

References 22 publications

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

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

Low Self‐control and Opportunity: Testing the General Theory of Crime as an Explanation for Gender Differences in Delinquency*

Examining Self-Control as a Multidimensional Predictor of Crime and Drug Use in Adolescents with Criminal Histories

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