Testing Control Theory and Differential Association: A Reanalysis of the Richmond Youth Project Data*

Abstract

In what has become a classic work in the field, Matsueda (1982) tested control theory against differential association theory using Hirschi's (1969) Richmond Youth Project data. Matsueda found that measures of “definitions favorable to law violation” entirely mediated the effect of his social control measures and friends' delinquency, and concluded that differential association theory was supported over control theory. We note several problems with Matsueda's specification of control theory, and we reanalyze the Richmond data including measures of commitment to conventional goals and several attachment to parents variables that Matsueda excluded. We also propose and test a new method of measuring the social bond, conceptualizing the social bond as a second‐order latent construct. In contrast with Matsueda's findings, we find that the social bond and friends' delinquency retain important direct effects on delinquency, and that these effects are greater than those of definitions. Thus, our results are more supportive of control theory than differential association theory.

Parental and Peer Influences on Adolescent Drug Use in Korea

“…These theories are the most frequently applied, tested, and endorsed by American criminologists as explanations of both serious and minor offending Stitt & Giacopassi, 1992). The research literature on these theories, then, is extensive and some of it compares the two with one another and with other theories (Agnew, 1991b;Akers, 1998;Akers & Cochran, 1985;Akers et al, 1979;Akers & Lee, 1999;Akers & Sellers, 2004;Benda, 1994;Benda & DiBlasio, 1991;Costello, 2000;Costello & Vowell, 1999;Kandel & Davies, 1991;Krohn, Lanza-Kaduce, & Akers, 1984;Longshore, 1998;Matsueda & Heimer, 1987;McGee, 1992;White, Pandina, & LaGrange, 1987;Wright, Caspi, Moffitt, & Silva, 1999). A few studies have been done outside North America.…”

An integrative model of computer abuse based on social control and general deterrence theories

“…On the basis of SCT, we propose a new set of measures that index the element of organizational trust and are represented by four factors: attachment, commitment, involvement, and norms [3,8,17,28]. We adopted the research framework from the theory of reasoned action (TRA) [7,27] and theory of planned behavior [6].…”

Mutual Aid among Young People with Emotional and Behavioral Problems: A Proposed Theoretical Framework

“…Social bonds with conventional adult institutions are crucial for furnishing social capital that effectively dampens behavioral problems (Costello and Vowell, 1999;Dornbusch, Erickson, Laird, and Wong, 2001). By contrast, the effect of peer support on the relief of emotional problems in youth is less decisive than that of reducing behavioral problems.…”