Applying Tittle’s control balance theory to police deviance

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Abstract The work of scholars who study police deviance has yet to result in the development of a substantive theory with which to frame their collective efforts. Recently, Tittle advanced a general theory of deviance that may help to fill this gap. The central premise of Tittle's control balance theory is that the amount of control to which one is subject relative to the amount of control one can exercise (the control ratio) affects both the probability of deviance as well as the specific form of deviance. Examines the utility of control balance as a new theoretical orientation in police deviance research. Presents a framework for conceptualizing control balance within the special context of police deviance and, using data collected specifically for the purpose of operationalizing the control ratio, provides an empirical test. The data are drawn from a survey administered to 499 Philadelphia police officers. Scenario methodology was used to investigate the effects of officer control ratios on the probability of reporting a fellow officer who covers up an incident in which another officer was discovered driving while intoxicated (off duty), and second physically abuses a suspect in custody. Consistent with predictions derived from Tittle's theory, results indicated that officers with control deficits are more likely to report fellow officers who engage in the behaviors portrayed in the scenarios. Future research directions are discussed.The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at

Street youths’ control imbalance and soft and hard drug use

“…These studies revealed that control imbalances of both types were related to assault (Baron & Forde, 2007;Piquero & Hickman, 1999, theft (Baron & Forde, 2007), deviant sexual practices (Piquero & Hickman, 1999), eating disorders , using others school work Higgens & Lauterbach, 2004), cheating (Curry, 2005), and victimization (Piquero & Hickman, 2003). Other work discovered that only control balance surpluses were related to corporate offending (Piquero and Piquero, 2006) and only control balance deficits were related to police deviance (Hickman, Piquero, Lawton, & Greene, 2001). DeLisi and Hochstetler (2002) found a number of sphere specific control balance ratios were better related to aggregates offenses of defiance and predation than exploitation, decadence, or submission.…”

“…The bulk of the limited number of available empirical tests on the control balance perspective have found that both control balance deficits and control balance surpluses were related to a range of deviant behaviors (although see Hickman, Piquero, Lawton, & Greene, 2001;Piquero & Piquero, 2006). These studies revealed that control imbalances of both types were related to assault (Baron & Forde, 2007;Piquero & Hickman, 1999, theft (Baron & Forde, 2007), deviant sexual practices (Piquero & Hickman, 1999), eating disorders , using others school work Higgens & Lauterbach, 2004), cheating (Curry, 2005), and victimization (Piquero & Hickman, 2003).…”

“…As a new addition to the pool of criminological theories, the control balance perspective has attracted a number of reviews (see Braithwaite, 1997;Jensen, 1999;Savelsberg, 1999) and been subjected to a series of empirical tests focusing on an array of deviant behaviors (Baron & Forde, 2007;Curry, 2005;Curry & Piquero, 2003;DeLisi & Hochstetler, 2002;Hickman, Piquero, Lawton, & Greene, 2001;Higgens & Lauterbach, 2004;Piquero & Hickman, 1999, 2003Piquero & Piquero, 2006). These works have provided some support for the perspective but have also produced a number of critiques and recommendations that have supplied the impetus for theoretical revision (see Tittle, 2004) and calls for new research to explore the empirical adequacies of the modifications, extensions, and additions.…”

Studying the reach of deterrence: Can deterrence theory help explain police misconduct?

“…Under the latter approach, developed by Tittle (1995), individuals possessing either control deficits (i.e., they were subject to more control than they exercised) or control surpluses (i.e., they enjoyed more control than they were subject to) were likely to commit deviant acts. In testing the applicability of control balance theory to police deviance with a sample of police officers in Philadelphia, Hickman et al (2001) found that officers who were experiencing control deficits were more likely to report fellow officers for misconduct. In general, however, there were relatively few efforts that systematically applied formal criminological models to the study of police misconduct.…”

Police Attitudes about the Use of Unnecessary Force: An Ecological Examination

“…Vignettes were provided to police officers who were asked their opinion about the use of unnecessary force and the likelihood that another officer would report that force to a supervisor (the dependent variables). The vignette design has been used to study the decision-making of officers (Eterno 2003) and to examine the opinion of police officers regarding the behavior of other officers (Hickman et al 2001). Several factors were included in each vignette (discussed below).…”