Beyond Self-Control: Analysis and Critique of Gottfredson & Hirschi's General Theory of Crime (1990)

• NCJ Number: 214529
• Author(s): Stefan Schulz
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 302 pages
• Sale Source: Max-Planck-Institute Fur Auslandisches und Internationales Strafrecht
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: Germany (Unified)

Annotation

This book presents a critical analysis of Michael Gottfredson’s and Travis Hirschi’s self-control theory of criminal behavior.

Abstract

In their thesis, A General Theory of Crime, Gottfredson and Hirschi assert that criminal acts will be predominantly, although not exclusively, committed by persons with low self-control. The author notes that their theory hinges on the tenets of classical rational choice theory in that delinquent and criminal actors make choices about their actions that are grounded in low self-control. The author focuses his analysis on assessing the validity of the theory’s logical presuppositions in light of current data and understandings. He notes that empirical support for a relationship between low self-control and crime has been fairly consistent with many studies concluding that low self-control is a strong predictor for involvement in juvenile delinquency and adult crime. However, results of some tests of self-control theory have found that: (1) opportunity interacts with low self-control and that, (2) when low self-control is disaggregated and treated as six independent dimensions, the dimension of risk taking appears most influential to criminal behavior. Another criticism of self-control theory questions whether the theory can explain enough of the variation in crime to support Gottfredson and Hirschi’s assertion that their self-control theory explains “all crime at all times.” The author asserts that upon examination, Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory is methodologically sound because the structure of self-control theory is sufficiently clear and does not preclude empirical examination of the phenomenon it describes. Indeed, upon empirical examination, the theory holds up well. In his analysis of self-control theory, the author also analyzes the current state of criminological theory, explains theory construction, and reviews empirical examinations of the theory. The author also considers the possibility of theoretical integration in order to suppress the proliferation of criminological theories, which he claims diminishes the field’s ability to impact public policy. Footnotes, tables, figures, boxes, appendixes, bibliography