The Social Consequences of Self‐control: Testing the General Theory of Crime*

Abstract

s recently introduced general theory of crime has received considerable empirical support. Researchers have found that low self-control, the general theory's core concept, is related to lawbreaking and to deviant behaviors considered by Gottfredson and Hirschi to be "analogous" to crime. In this article, we extend this research by assessing the effects of low self-control on crime and analogous behaviors and by using two distinct measures of self-control, an attitudinal measure and the analogous/behavior scale. Thus, following Gottfredson and Hirschi, we use analogous imprudent behaviors as outcomes of low self-control and as indicators of low self-control's effects on crime. We also examine an important but thus far neglected part of the theory: the claim that low self-control has effects not only on crime but also on life chances, life quality, and other social consequences. Consistent with the general theory, we found that both measures of self-control, attitudinal and behavioral, have effects on crime, even when controlling for a range of social factors. Further, the analysis revealed general support for the theory's prediction of negative relationships between low self-control and social consequences other than crime-life outcomes and quality of life. University of Cincinnati. We thank several anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. CRIMINOLOGY VOLUME 35 NUMBER 3 1997 475 476 EVANS ET AL.Starting with its publication in 1990 and continuing to the present, Gottfredson and Hirschi's A General Theory of Crime has generated considerable interest and much controversy (see, e.g.

Accounting for Projection Bias in Models of Delinquent Peer Influence: The Utility and Limits of Latent Variable Approaches

“…Illustratively, Gottfredson and Hirshi proposed that low self-control results in poor relational competencies (Gottfredson and Hirshi, 1990:157), and research has empirically related low self-control to poor quality relationships (Evans et al, 1997) and diminished interpersonal functioning (Tangney et al, 2008). By controlling for low self-control, our models attempt to account for errors in estimation that are attributable to weak interpersonal skills.…”

Does self‐control account for the relationship between binge drinking and alcohol‐related behaviours?

“…Nevertheless, while several studies have examined the effects of low self-control on offending behaviours and deviant acts Grasmick et al, 1993;Keane et al, 1993;Polakowski, 1994;Gibbs and Giever, 1995;Piquero and Tibbetts, 1996;Evans et al, 1997;Cochran et al, 1998;LaGrange and Silverman, 1998;Burton et al, 1999), only a handful have examined whether low self-control is predictive of both criminal and analogous behaviours.…”

“…They found that although measures of self-control and social control were related to delinquency and to accident involvement, the relation between crime and accidents became weaker when these measures were taken into account, but it did not disappear. Evans et al (1997) used a sample from the Midwest to examine the relationship between an attitudinal measure of self-control and self-reported involvement in crime and a variety of analogous behaviours. They found comparable effects of self-control on criminal and analogous behaviours.…”

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

“…Consistently, researchers have shown that delinquent peer association is a necessary measure to include in tests of self-control theory (Baron, 2004;Burton, Cullen, Evans, & Dunaway 1994;Burton et aI., 1998;Evans, Cullen, Burton, Dunaway, & Benson, 1997;Perrone et aI., 2004;Pratt & Cullen, 2000). These researchers have argued that concepts of self-control theory are not able to account for the connection between delinquent peer association and offending.…”