Self-control, sanction threats, temptation, and crime: examining contingencies of self-control in a cross-national context

Using a representative household survey data, we examine the generality of self-control, the predictive strengths of sanction threats, and the interaction between criminal propensity and sanction threats in explaining criminal probability. Although the data confirm the generality of self-control pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cihan, Abdullah (Author)
Contributors: Tittle, Charles R.
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2019, Volume: 65, Issue: 4, Pages: 555-558
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
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Keywords:
Criminals
Kriminalitätsprognose
Offending
Quantitative
Theory
Description
Summary:Using a representative household survey data, we examine the generality of self-control, the predictive strengths of sanction threats, and the interaction between criminal propensity and sanction threats in explaining criminal probability. Although the data confirm the generality of self-control predictions of deviant/criminal behavior in the Turkish cultural context, the effects appear quite modest and contingent on fear of informal sanctions and temptation. Consistent with the findings of recent studies, a small interaction between self-control and sanction threats suggests that deterrence is greatest among individuals with weak self-control. However, there is no interaction between sanction threats and temptation, suggesting that sanction fear is equally likely among individuals regardless of their level of temptation.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/0011128718824939