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Social Bonds, Self-Control, and Adult Criminality: A Nationally Representative Assessment of Hirschi's Revised Self-Control Theory

NCJ Number
235281
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 38 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2011 Pages: 584-599
Author(s)
Robert G. Morris; Jurg Gerber; Scott Menard
Date Published
June 2011
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article reviews recent modifications to the self-control theory.
Abstract
Recent modifications to self-control theory suggest that influential factors (bonds) equate to self-control in the calculation of whether or not to engage in deviant behavior. Hirschi argued that self-control should fare better as a theory when it is operationalized as the number and salience of an individual's social bonds, rather than as a cognitive scale, or count of previous acts, as suggested by the original theory. This study extends the control theory literature by assessing the impact of redefined self-control, as well as attitudinal self-control, on adult criminal behavior. Data analyzed were from Waves 10 and 11 of the National Youth Survey Family Study. Findings suggest that both forms of self-control (new and old) are equivalently predictive of adult crime, yet it is unlikely that they are capturing the same phenomenon during adulthood. Implications for control theory are discussed. (Published Abstract)