Self Control Theory

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Self Control Theory
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Self-control theory

• Hirschi collaborated with Gottfredson (1990) to
  develop the theory with the only one type of
  control self-control
• They did not clarify how their self-control
  theory relates to Hirschis social bonding theory
  
• We can assume that all four elements of social
  bonding must be an indicators of the concept of
  self-control

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Self-control theory

• Theory states that individuals with high
  self-control will be less likely at all periods
  of life to engage in criminal acts, while
  individuals with low self-control are likely to
  commit crimes

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Elements of low self-control

• Self-control consists of the ability to delay
  gratification
• People with low self-control have a here and
  now orientation and are unable or unwilling to
  delay gratification.
• Crime provides easy gratification of desires
  (money without work, sex without courtship,
  revenge without court delays)
• People lacking self-control also tend to lack
  persistence in a course of action

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Elements of low self-control

• Criminal acts are exciting, risky, and thrilling
• They involve steal, speed, agility, deception,
  and power
• People lacking self-control tend to be
  adventuresome, active, and physical
• Those with high levels of self-control tend to be
  cautious, cognitive, and verbal

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Elements of low self-control

• Crimes provide a few long-term benefits
• They are not equivalent to a job or a carrier (on
  contrary, crimes interfere with long-term
  commitments to job, family, or friends)
• People with low self-control tend to have
  unstable marriages, friendships, and job profiles

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Elements of low self-control

• Crimes require little skill or planning (the
  cognitive requirements for most crimes are
  minimal)
• People lacking self-control need not possess or
  value cognitive or academic skills

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Elements of low self-control

• Crimes often result in pain or discomfort for the
  victim
• It follows that people with low self-control tend
  to be self-centered, indifferent, or insensitive
  to the suffering and needs of others

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Elements of low self-control

• Low self-control argument rests on the idea that
  crime is like any other reckless act.
• Those with low self-control tend to smoke, drink,
  use drugs, gamble, have children out of wedlock,
  and engage in illicit sex
• In addition, because low self-control is
  associated with all types of crime, offenders
  will tend not to specialize in particular kind of
  crime.

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Determinants of Low Self-Control

• Low self-control is produced in families where
  there is little attachment between parent and
  child, in families where parents fail to
  recognize deviant behavior (for example, in cases
  where parents are also deviant), or when parents
  recognize deviant behavior and fail to correct it
• Self-control that is not attainment in childhood
  is unlikely to be produced in adulthood

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Self-control

• Self-control develops during early socialization
• Once formed in childhood, the amount of
  self-control remain relatively stable throughout
  life
• Parents who are attached to children, supervise,
  monitor and punish deviant acts (family is the
  most important agent)
• Peer groups are relatively unimportant in the
  development of self-control

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Crime Rate Variations?

• Why do people commit less crime as they age?
• Why are some regions are more crime prone than
  others?
• Why are some groups are more crime prone than
  others?
• Does that mean there are between-group
  differences in self-control?

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Age-crime relationship
8-9 years
15-24 years
45-55 years
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Answer of the theory

• Criminal propensity and criminal acts are
  separate concepts
• Crime is rational and predictable- people commit
  crime when it promises rewards with minimal
  threat of pain
• If targets are guarded, crime rates diminish
• Only the truly irrational offender would dare to
  strike under those circumstances

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Answer of the theory

• Criminal offenders are people predisposed to
  commit crimes, they are not robots who commit
  crime without restrain
• Their days are filled also with conventional
  behaviors (school, church, job)
• But given the same set of criminal opportunities
  (free time, living in a neighborhood with
  unguarded homes, etc) crime prone people are more
  likely to violate the law.