Testing Revised Low Self-Control Theory: Results From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 1994

Date

2013-04

Authors

Vaughan, Tyler John

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

This study constructs a cross-sectional empirical test of revised low self-control theory using data collected in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 1994. The primary focus of the redefinition of low self-control is on the role of social bonds in determining the level of self-control one exhibits. Furthermore, these concepts are hypothesized to measure the same underlying construct. After constructing measures of social bonding, and attitudinal self-control, multiple statistical techniques were used to measure the extent to which self-control and social bonding were related to one another and to a versatility index of delinquency. Both scales were generally predictive of the number of different offenses youth commit, however, the shared variation in the independent variable indices was small, leading one to believe the two scales may not measure the same underlying construct. It is more likely that the measure posited by Hirschi (2004) is a measure of social bonding as opposed to self-control. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Description

Keywords

Self-control, Low self-control, Delinquency, Social bonding, Social control, Control theory, Criminology, Crime theory, Criminal justice, Juvenile, Juvenile delinquency, Adolescent health, Add health, Theory Testing: Multiple Regression

Citation

Vaughan, T. J. (2013). <i>Testing revised low self-Control theory: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, 1994</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.

Rights

Rights Holder

Rights License

Rights URI