Morality, Self‐control, and Crime*

Abstract

This paper offers evidence to specify further Self‐Control Theory by investigating its predictive strength relative to morality and its interconnections with morality in accounting for criminal probability. Using random sample household survey data from Lviv, Ukraine, we confirm that self‐control is an important predictor of criminal probabilities in an unusual cultural context. However, morality is also shown to be a strong independent predictor with strength that seems to exceed substantially that of self‐control. In addition, taking morality into account significantly reduces the coefficients for self‐control, sometimes eliminating them entirely, and morality shows little interaction with self‐control in its predictions of the measures of criminal probability. The results suggest that the recently formulated Situational Action Theory, which features (weak) morality as the prime cause of criminal behavior and questions the relative importance of self‐control, should be taken seriously. Overall, the results confirm the importance of self‐control as a factor in misbehavior; yet, they also provide a mandate for greater attention to morality as a potent variable in understanding misconduct.

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

“…Since its inception in 1990, the theory has been a dominant force behind research conducted in American criminology (Cohn & Farrington, 1999). Quite a few tests of the theory, based on self-report surveys, have also been conducted with data from Western countries other than the United States (e.g., Antonaccio & Tittle, 2008;Ozbay, 2008) and Asian countries including Korea (e.g., Hwang & Akers, 2003), Japan (e.g., Kono & Okamoto, 2001), and China (e.g., Wang, Qiao, Hong, & Zhang, 2002). With some notable exceptions (Vazsonyi, Pickering, Junger, & Hessing, 2001;Vazsonyi, Wittekind, Belliston, & Van Loh, 2004;Vazsonyi & Bellison, 2007), however, tests of self-control theory typically have relied on data collected in one nation.…”

The Role of Rational Calculus in Controlling Individual Propensity toward Information Security Policy Non-Compliance Behavior

“…On the other hand, the connection between morality and behavior is also well-established in the criminological literature [1,55]. Kohlberg's cognitive moral development (CMD) theory has been the foundation for a majority of morality based research [32].…”

“…Kohlberg's cognitive moral development (CMD) theory has been the foundation for a majority of morality based research [32]. However, criminologists are more open to the idea of cognitive morality [1]. "The cognitive morality approach assumes that the causes of behavior are not entirely confined to moral cognitions or even to conditions internal to the individual.…”

“…"The cognitive morality approach assumes that the causes of behavior are not entirely confined to moral cognitions or even to conditions internal to the individual. Instead, this second approach assumes that what people actually do is influenced by a number of factors, including internal conditions (such as personality, stated moral beliefs, and psychic strains) and external conditions (such as normative expectations, potential chances of being caught and punished, and others)" [1].…”

“…In a study of selected adults in Ukraine, Antonaccio and Tittle found that morality is a more important predictor of intention of criminal behavior among all factors considered, and a more potent predictor than low self-control [1]. In a recent study of adolescent criminal behavior, Wikström and Svensson found that weak morality and low self-control are two strong predictors of criminal behavior; young people with strong morality do not engage in crimes, regardless the level of self-control, suggesting a direct impact of morality on behaviour [60].…”