The Robustness of Self-Control in Relation to Form of Delinquency

Abstract

This study of a statewide, stratified random sample of 3,335 public high school students is designed to examine the robustness of self-control in predicting alcohol consumption, other drug use, crimes against persons, and property offenses. Comparisons in prediction of these forms of delinquency are made between two measures of self-control, social characteristics, and elements of other theories. An examination also is made of whether self-control accounts for commensurate amounts of variance within categories of social characteristics. A behavioral measure of self-control generally is a stronger predictor of delinquency than a cognitive measure. Inconsistent findings are observed in analyses of whether self-control accounts for commensurate variation in delinquency between and within categories of these social characteristics. Both measures are significant predictors of delinquency when they are simultaneously analyzed with many factors extrapolated from other theories. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of future theory and research.

Predictive validity of self‐reported self‐control for different forms of recidivism

“…General self-regulation problems were identified as a risk factor for sexual recidivism in the meta-analysis by Hanson and Morton-Bourgon (2005). Finally, low SC assessed through attitudinal and behavioral measures was found to be related to property offenses (Benda, 2005;Cretacci, 2007).…”

Self-control, gender, and deviance among Turkish university students

“…These criminologists did not use the subdimensions of self-control, and the "z" test was not utilized in the comparisons of males and females concerning the criminal acts. Benda (2005) tested self-control theory (both cognitive and behavioral measures) on delinquent acts (alcohol and drug use, personal and property offenses) among male and female adolescents by using correlation analysis in a cross-sectional study in a state in the United States. There was not a clear pattern of the influence of self-control on delinquent behaviors for both sexes.…”

“…Among these arguments, the present study focused only on whether self-control could be the explanation for both male and female deviant behaviors. There had been a few studies on the gender generalizability of selfcontrol theory in the West (Benda, 2005;Burton, Cullen, Evans, Alarid, & Dunaway, 1998;Keane, Maxim, & Teevan, 1993;LaGrange & Silverman, 1999;Mason & Windle, 2002;Tittle, Ward, & Grasmick, 2003;Vazsonyi, 2003;Vazsonyi & Crosswhite, 2004;Vazsonyi, Pickering, Junger, & Hessing, 2001;Vazsonyi, Wittekind, Belliston, & Van Loh, 2004). More importantly, given that similar studies in non-Western societies did not exist, there needed to be more studies on the issue.…”

Fostering and Measuring Skills Interventions That Improve Character and Cognition

“…44 See the discussion in Pratt and Cullen (2000) and Benda (2005 A large body of evidence reviewed in Almlund et al (2011) shows that stable character skills exist and are predictive of many behaviors. 47 An early paper by Epstein (1979) presents compelling evidence that, averaging over tasks and situations, people act in a predictable fashion with a high level of reliability of average behavior ("measured character") across situations.…”