A Replication and an Honor-Based Extension of Hirschi's Reconceptualization of Self-Control Theory and Crime and Analogous Behaviors

Bibliographic Data

ID2152712
AuthorsWyatt Brown (0000-0001-9461-6823, a University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida , USA), Wesley G Jennings (0000-0001-7524-4825, a University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida , USA)
Year2014
Volume35
Issue4
Pages297-310
Publication date2014-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeviant Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01639625.2013.848114
OpenAlexW2078496119
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited28

In 2004 Hirschi reconceptualized self-control in an effort to clarify prior theoretical definitions and measurement. Recognizing this reconceptualization, the current study seeks to contribute to the literature by comparing various operationalizations of Hirschi's revised self-control. Multivariate results derived from an analysis of a large sample of college students reveal that several alternative measures of self-control (decisional self-control, social bonds/self-control, and honor-based decisional self-control) are associated with crime and analogous behavior, yet social bonds/self-control remains the best predictor. Theoretical implications and study limitations are also discussed. Notes 1There are several reasons that a variety index of deviant behavior is useful. First, involvement in multiple types of crimes is a good and reliable predictor of later deviant behavior (Robins, Citation1978). Second, due to the rare nature of crime and analogous behavior a single item measure may lead to a severe positive skew and variety scales provide a more normal distribution, which provides better psychometric properties (Bendixen et al. Citation2003; Hirschi et al. Citation1980). Finally, unlike frequency scores that tend to overweight minor offenses, variety scales allow equal weight to be given to all deviant acts. 2Hypothetical Drunk-Driving Scenario from Piquero and Bouffard (Citation2007:27) and used in this study: "It is about 2 o'clock Thursday morning. You have spent most of the night drinking with friends at a party and have had a lot to drink. You decide to leave and go back to your house, which is about 5 miles away from where the party is. You feel drunk and are sure that you are over the legal limit, and wonder whether you should drive yourself home. You remember that you need your car early the next morning for an important appointment. You also know that your roommate is home and would be able to give you a ride back to the house to get your car the next morning." *p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001; n = 355. CAB = crime and analogous behaviors; DSC = decisional self-control; SC = self-control. DSC = decisional self-control; SC = self-control. *p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001. Additional informationNotes on contributorsWyatt Brown WYATT BROWN , M.S., is a doctoral student in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences in the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida. Wesley G. Jennings WESLEY G. JENNINGS , Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences in the Department of Criminology and has a Courtesy Appointment in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida

Control (management · Self-control · Social control · Sociology · Statistics · Variety (cybernetics · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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