RT Article
T1 Linking self- and social control with deviance: Illuminating the structure underlying a general theory of crime and its relation to deviant activity
JF Journal of quantitative criminology
VO 10
IS 1
SP 41
OP 78
A1 Polakowski, Michael
LA English
YR 1994
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1764277791
AB The present paper operationalizes and empirically tests the most recent theoretical speculations of Hirschi and Gottfredson regarding an individual level characteristic of self-control and its relation to earlier specifications of control theory as well as the literature on personality. Linkages are drawn between their broad delineation of self-control and personal disorders of hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention deficits, and minor conduct problems. Psychologists disagree about whether such disorders represent single or multiple traits and whether both behavioral and cognitive measures can appropriately depict personality characteristics. Employing structural equation techniques, support for several propositions derived from Gottfredson and Hirschi's thesis is found: Self-control subsumes several personality disorders and is significantly comprised by early behavioral indicators of aggression and fighting, is inversely related to other elements of the social bond, is moderately stable over a short period of time, and significantly predicts criminal convictions. However, questions remain regarding the ubiquity of self-control, the magnitude and meaning of stability, and the power of this perspective to explain all forms of self-reported delinquency.
K1 Self-reported delinquency
K1 Convictions
K1 Personality Disorder
K1 LISREL
K1 Social Control
K1 Self-control
DO 10.1007/BF02221008