A General Theory of Crime
... The previous discussion leads to the derivation of the theoretical framework for measuring EM among enforcement officers in Malaysia (see Figure 1). This proposed conceptual framework is constructed based on three theories and one model, namely the Agnew (1992) General Strain Theory (GST), Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) General Theory of Crime (GTC), Cressey's (1953) Fraud Triangle Theory (FTT) and Stressors-Emotion Model (Spector and Fox, 2005). The theoretical framework for this study is grounded in the Agnew (1992) General Strain Theory (GST), which posits that stress arises when individuals experience strain or pressure from various sources, leading them to engage in deviant behavior as a coping mechanism. ...
... Self-control and EM have a significant and negative relationship, consistent with previous studies (Donner et al., 2016;Donner and Jennings, 2014;Donner et al., 2021;Wang et al., 2021). This supports the general theory of crime (GTC) postulation that employees with low self-control are more likely to commit workplace misconduct and crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). This means that law enforcement officers with higher levels of self-control are less likely to engage in EM. ...
... The results show that stress partially mediates the relationship between self-control, organizational justice, salary, and financial pressure with EM. Self-control has a direct effect on EM via stress, consistent with past studies (Agnew, 1992;Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990). This means that law enforcement officers with higher levels of self-control are less likely to engage in EM. ...
Employee misconduct (EM) is a significant issue in law enforcement agencies, where officers may exploit their authority for personal gain. Grounded in the General Strain Theory (GST), General Theory of Crime (GTC) and Fraud Triangle Theory (FTT), this study aims to investigate the role of stress as a mediating factor between various antecedents (self-control, integrity, organizational justice, politics, salary, financial pressure, and lifestyle) and EM, specifically within the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). Data was gathered through two structured questionnaires administered to both employees and their supervisors using a quantitative research design. A total of 428 police officers from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Perak, and Sabah participated in the study. The findings show that self-control, organizational justice, salary, and financial pressure significantly influence stress and EM, while integrity, organizational politics, and lifestyle do not. Furthermore, stress was found to partially mediate the relationship between these antecedents (self-control, organizational justice, salary, financial pressure) and EM. This study is the first to explore the mediating effect of stress on EM within a Malaysian law enforcement context, and the integration of individual, organizational, and socio-economic factors into a unified model represents a novel contribution to the study of misconduct in law enforcement agencies.
... Specifically, we use measures of concepts from two criminological theories in this study. We begin our study by outlining the specifics of Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) version of self-control theory. Then, we move our presentation to Akers's (1998) version of social learning theory. ...
... Then, we move our presentation to Akers's (1998) version of social learning theory. These two theories will provide contrasting views by showing how an individual propensity influences the decision to use a webcam covering after the person has been victimized (i.e., Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990 version of low self-control), and Akers's (2017) social learning theory will provide information about how social factors influence this type of decision. After these two theories are presented, the methods are presented that are followed by the results. ...
... The discussion and conclusion finish the study. Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) argued humans were rational beings. In this sense, humans weigh the potential benefits and consequences before deciding to perform an action. ...
The purpose of this study was to determine the measures associated with the action of covering a webcam after victimization to protect privacy. The paper tested the core tenets of two theories: self-control theory and social learning theory. In the paper, the hypotheses that individuals with low self-control are likely to use a webcam covering after victimization because they have been made aware of the consequences of not doing so is tested. Further, the hypothesis that individuals with larger amounts of differential association off and on-line are more likely to use webcam coverings. A random sample of individuals from the United States were used. The results support both hypotheses. Those with low self-control are more likely to use a webcam covering after they have been victimized because they are aware of the consequences. In addition, the results show individuals with larger amounts of differential association off and on-line are more likely to use webcam coverings. The larger effect is in favor of differential association (i.e., social learning theory) suggesting a learning component to this behavior.
... Gottfredson and Hirschi [32] proposed self-control theory as part of their general theory of crime, suggesting that people are motivated to engage in behaviors that increase their pleasure or decrease their pain. However, criminal and substance use behaviors depend on a person's ability to exercise self-control when appropriate opportunities arise. ...
... Many studies have shown that people often have difficulty controlling impulses when exposed to ostracism [58,59]. According to Gottfredson and Hirschi's [32] self-control theory, people with low self-control tend to be more impulsive and engage in criminal activities. The reason for this tendency is that substance abuse provides instant gratification. ...
Background: Experiences of ostracism may be related to attitudes toward substance abuse. However, the protective factors underlying this relationship are still unclear. Therefore, based on the Need-threat and Self-control theory, we aimed to test a model in which self-control and hope mediate the relationship between ostracism and attitudes toward addictive substances. Methods: In this model, we highlighted risk factors (ostracism) and protective factors (self-control and hope). This study was a cross-sectional data analysis of 787 students (52.50% boys, 47.50% girls; Mage = 15.69, SD = 1.12). Results: The results revealed that ostracism was positively associated with attitudes toward addictive substances, and evidence was provided that this relationship was mediated by hope and self-control. Ultimately, the research highlights the link between ostracism and attitudes toward addictive substances, identifying hope and self-control as mediators. Conclusions: This study highlights individual risk and protective factors related to attitudes toward addictive substances and offers new perspectives on ways to prevent and reduce adolescents’ positive attitudes toward substance use. School counselors and educators should help students strengthen skills such as hope and self-control to prevent them from developing positive attitudes toward substance use in the future.
... Prior research has demonstrated that a good self-control is linked to adaptable life outcomes, including academic achievement (Duckworth & Seligman, 2006;Troll et al., 2021), well-being (Li et al., 2022;Şimşir & Dilmaç, 2022), positive personal relations (Tangney et al., 2004), better general financial behavior and financial well-being (Strömbäck et al., 2017), and health-promoting behaviors (Hagger et al., 2019). A greater level of self-control is also related to lower psychopathology and impulse control issues, including alcohol, nicotine, or other substance disorders, as well as impulsive eating (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Hagger et al., 2019;Tangney et al., 2004). On the other hand, indicators of lack of self-control include being impulsive, taking risks, addiction, choosing physical over mental activities, overeating, choosing easy over difficult tasks, and being egocentric and quick-tempered (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). ...
... A greater level of self-control is also related to lower psychopathology and impulse control issues, including alcohol, nicotine, or other substance disorders, as well as impulsive eating (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Hagger et al., 2019;Tangney et al., 2004). On the other hand, indicators of lack of self-control include being impulsive, taking risks, addiction, choosing physical over mental activities, overeating, choosing easy over difficult tasks, and being egocentric and quick-tempered (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Inadequate self-control may hinder a person's capacity to reduce urges and avoid addiction (Gökçearslan et al., 2016). ...
The current research explores the diverse profiles of problematic smartphone use (PSU) ratings within an adult sample using latent profile analysis, along with an examination of some factors associated with these latent profiles. The study enrolled 807 individuals, 66.29% of whom were female, from various provinces of Türkiye. The participants were between 18 and 54 years old (Mage = 23.35; SD = 3.59). Self-control, boredom proneness, and procrastination were examined to determine their associations with PSU rating-based latent profile membership. The analysis identified three distinct profiles based on PSU items: low PSU, moderate PSU, and high PSU. According to the results of the Vermunt three-step test, compared to the high and moderate PSU groups, the group with a low PSU profile demonstrated greater self-control and a lower degree of boredom and procrastination. The findings reveal that increases in boredom proneness and procrastination, along with a decline in self-control, significantly raise the risk of PSU. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions may help reduce the risk of developing PSU.
... Akdemir and Lawless [20] used CSEW data and victim interviews to test the applicability of the Lifestyle Routine Activities Theory (LRAT), an adapted form of the RAT which conceives risk of victimisation in terms of probability according to one's overall lifestyle [21]. Similarly, Mikkola et al. [22] conducted their own international survey of participants aged between 15 and 25 in order to investigate whether RAT and the 'general theory of crime' [23]-which proposes that the primary cause of criminal behaviour is a lack of self-control-can be used to explain risk of different kinds of cybercrime victimisation. Among their findings were that a risk-driven lifestyle, peer pressure and young age are factors that contribute to cybercrime victimisation. ...
... In fully adjusted multivariate models (Table 1 -which describes multivariate associations of variables with cybercrime victimisation and repeat victimisation) likelihood of cybercrime victimisation was highest among people aged 16-24 and lowest in people aged 75+. By contrast, repeat victimisation was experienced most frequently by people aged 75+, though this difference relative to the youngest age group (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) was not statistically significant. Meanwhile, adults aged 75+ were significantly more likely than participants aged 16-24 to experience financial loss as a result of their victimisation ( Table 2). ...
Background
Younger people are more likely to report cybercrime than older people. As older people spend more time online, this may change. If similarly exposed, risk factors including social isolation and poor health could make older adults disproportionally susceptible. We aimed to explore whether cybercrime risks and their predictors vary between age groups.
Methods
We analysed responses from 35,069 participants aged 16+ in the 2019/20 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). We investigated, among people who have used the internet in the past year, risks of experiencing any cybercrime, repeat victimisation and associated financial loss across age groups.
Results
Despite being at lower risk of reporting any cybercrime in the past year, people aged 75+ were more likely to report financial loss resulting from cybercrime victimisation (OR 4.25, p = 0.037) and repeat cybercrime victimisation (OR 2.03, p = 0.074) than younger people. Men, those from Mixed or Black ethnic groups, more deprived areas, managerial professional groups, and with worse health were at greater cybercrime risk.
Discussion
While younger adults are more at risk from cybercrime, older adults disclosed more severe cases (repetitive victimisation and associated financial loss), perhaps due to lesser awareness of scams and reporting options. As most people experience declining health as they age, greater understanding of why poor health predicts cybercrime could inform prevention initiatives that would particularly benefit older age groups and mitigate risks of growing internet use among older adults. Health and social care professionals may be well positioned to support prevention.
... Evidenced by hundreds of studies encompassing hundreds of thousands of participants, there is consistent empirical support that self-control is associated with a broad range of behavioral outcomes spanning family and perso-30 nal relationships, educational attainment, employment, socioeconomic status, physical and mental health, and conduct problems (De Ridder et al., 2012;Johnson et al., 2023;Moffitt et al., 2011;Robson et al., 2020;Vazsonyi et al., 2017). One reason for these consistent effects is that persons with low selfcontrol tend to exhibit a variety of disagreeable, aversive, and negative person-35 ality and behavioral features (e.g., impulsivity, self-centeredness, narcissism, irritable temper, poor gratification delay) that increase the likelihood of antisocial conduct, interpersonal problems, and related dysfunction (DeLisi, 2011;Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Hay & Meldrum, 2015;Pechorro et al., 2021). 40 Despite the salience of negative dispositional features, such as low selfcontrol to behavioral outcomes, there is evidence that positive features of the human condition have largely overcome the effects of negative traits on human behavior (Pinker, 2011). ...
... Predictor 130 Low Self-Control Scale -Short Form (LSCS; Grasmick et al., 1993;Pechorro et al., 2023). This is a self-report short version measure of low self-control, as defined in the general theory of crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990), that includes three factors with 4 items each (that is, 12 items total), namely Impulsivity, Risk-seeking, and Self-Centered. All LSCS-SF items in the current 135 study were formatted as 5-point Likert scales with anchors 1 (Strongly disagree) and 5 (Strongly agree). ...
The question of whether positive personality traits can potentially overcome, or moderate, the association between self-control deficits and antisocial/criminal behavior is an important topic of research. The current study aims at examining the potential role of light triad traits of personality – Faith in Humanity, Humanism, and Kantianism, – as moderators of the low self-control-antisociality/delinquency links. The sample was composed of 354 adult participants (M = 32.02 years, SD = 13.26 years, range = 18-68 years) from Portugal. Results show that the Kantianism factor and the Light Triad total score significantly moderate low self-control when predicting an antisociality/criminality outcome. Findings suggest that the conceptualization of light triad traits as protective factors for antisocial and criminal behavior are a promising avenue for research, but more investigation is needed about its moderation effects to inform behavioral interventions in forensic settings.
... Self-control (SC) is the ability to control one's thoughts, impulses, and desires (Alberts et al., 2006). The theory of self-control proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) contends that lack of self-control is mostly the result of the nurturer's ineffective parenting behavior, of which childhood maltreatment is a representative example. The experience of childhood maltreatment may disrupt individual neuronal development and limit brain growth (Spyrka et al., 2020), resulting in poor self-control (Cabrera et al., 2020;Cowell et al., 2015). ...
... As a result, they may have become desperate and exacerbated their severity of drug dependence. Gottfredson and Hirschi showed in their self-control theory that individual differences in criminal and deviant behavior can be explained by differences in the ability to control oneself in the face of temptation [41]. Indeed, previous studies have indicated that selfcontrol associates with substance use [42], that poor self-control increases substance use [43], and that low self-control associates with methamphetamine use [44,45]. ...
Background
Treatment of stimulant offenders in Japan is an urgent issue. One of the more recent support approaches for stimulant offenders in Japan is to understand and support them based on a self‐medication hypothesis; however, the effect of trust on substance abuse severity among incarcerated stimulant offenders has not been examined. Additionally, while accounting for gender differences is essential when providing support for them, these differences have not also been examined.
Purpose
To investigate gender differences in the effect of trust on substance abuse severity in a national sample of stimulant offenders in Japanese prisons.
Method
Data from 586 incarcerated stimulant offenders who answered a nationwide questionnaire were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the association between trust and the severity of substance abuse.
Results
Compared with men, women reported lower trust in others; moreover, their distrust in others and substance abuse severity were greater. After controlling for confounding factors, multiple regression analyses were conducted separately for men and women, with trust as the independent variable and substance abuse severity as the dependent variable. The models for both men (R² = 0.180, p < 0.001) and women (R² = 0.236, p < 0.001) were significant. Trust in oneself influenced drug dependence severity for men (β = −0.183, p < 0.01), whereas distrust in others influenced drug dependence severity for women (β = 0.185, p < 0.05).
Conclusion
These findings suggest that gender differences must be considered when supporting stimulant offenders in prison.
... Even if it seems very easy for a common audience, the topic of deviance as a social phenomenon (Palmer & Humphrey, 1990) is a subject of permanent discussion among scholars due to its ambiguity concerning the historical legitimacy of the penal legislation (Hirschi & Gottfredson, 1990). This interdisciplinary investigation, whose aim is to offer a panoramic view of the mentioned issue, illustrates the significant directions in the public sphere during the last three centuries, from the social contract theories of the Enlightenment towards the social constructivist, feminist, and ecologist directions of today. ...
This study consists of a critical presentation of deviance, focusing on an interdisciplinary investigation. With the aid of a thematic literature review, we discuss internal mechanisms of social cohesion. In this way, we observe that every domain has its own pattern of research. Deviance is a highly debated phenomenon that is strictly relevant to social functioning. On the one hand, the economists discuss the phenomenon of deviance in relation to social market regulation, stating that people’s actions can be explained through Weber’s theory of rational choice, where social order is depicted as social capital. On the other hand, the cultural approach is profoundly influenced by a metaphysical worldview, taking into consideration the religious, historical, and aesthetical experiences. Thus, their focus is the notion of morality, which is, unfortunately, not clearly defined. Another key point is the features of canon, taste, and social distinction. These are frequently criticized by sociologists, whose opinions gravitate towards the processes of norms, anomie, and social bonds. After a short portrayal of the conceptual limits of social deviance, which are reflected in the Marxist, feminist, and ecological perspectives, the paper ends with our opinion on this complex issue.
... Individuals who lack self-discipline tend to seek immediate external reinforcement, which is often overtly visible to others. In contrast, those who possess high levels of self-discipline tend to pursue reinforcement that is beneficial to their own well-being and provides intrinsic motivation (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). ...
The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between undergraduate students' perceptions of academic self-discipline and their levels of quiet quitting. The study was conducted with 312 students pursuing their studies at higher education in-stitutions in the Tekirdağ and Istanbul provinces. The Academic Self-Discipline Scale, developed by Şal (2022) and adapted into Turkish by Erduran Tekin & Şal (2023), and the quiet quitting Scale, developed by Savaş and Turan (2023), were employed as data collection instruments in the research, which was designed in accordance with the relational survey model. The findings of the study indicated that undergraduate stu-dents exhibited high levels of academic self-discipline, while their levels of quiet quit-ting were at a medium level. Furthermore, the study revealed a negative yet moderate and significant association between academic self-discipline and quiet quitting levels among undergraduate students. The regression analysis demonstrated that undergradu-ate students' academic self-discipline perceptions were a notable predictor of their quiet quitting levels, thereby distinguishing the study from existing literature. In alignment with the findings of the research, recommendations were put forth with the aim of reducing the prevalence of silent resignation among undergraduate students and enhancing their academic self-discipline.
... From the source literature, we can conclude that an individual's experiences in the field of education are an important factor of adjustment -successes versus failures in this sphere have consequences for socialisation and the development of self-control (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Educational success, or more broadly, good school functioning, may promote the acquisition of resilience in children and adolescents (Kwiatkowski, 2019;Ostaszewski, 2014). ...
b>Cel . Celem przeprowadzonych analiz było sprawdzenie struktury nowej, rozszerzonej wersji narzędzia do pomiaru funkcjonalności wychowawczej rodziny pochodzenia. Modyfikacja narzędzia polegała na dołączeniu do wersji opracowanej poprzednio dwóch nowych podskal mierzących promowanie w rodzinie generacyjnej sukcesu edukacyjnego oraz uczestnictwa w kulturze. Metody i materiały . Badania przeprowadzono na próbie 1270 osób w wieku 18-37 lat. Do oceny struktury narzędzia wykorzystano eksploracyjną i konformacyjną analizę czynnikową. Niezależnie od powyższego wykorzystano analizę regresji czynnikowej do weryfikacji związku podskal kwestionariusza ze zdolnością do pozytywnej adaptacji (resilience-trait). Wyniki i wnioski . W świetle przeprowadzonych badań wyekstrahowano trzy podskale. Pierwszą jest pozytywny klimat relacji wychowawczej w rodzinie (łączącą aspekt autoratywnego wychowania i resiliencji systemu rodzinnego). Dwie dodatkowe podskale wyodrębnione w analizach to orientacja rodziców na sukces edukacyjny dziecka i na promowanie uczestnictwa dziecka w kulturze wyższej. Struktura powyższa ujawniła się w eksploracyjnej analizie czynnikowej i została zweryfikowana w konfirmacyjnej analizie czynnikowej. Analizy regresji czynnikowej pozwoliły ustalić występowanie istotnych efektów interakcyjnych pomiędzy poszczególnymi podskalami narzędzia a poziomem resilience. Kombinacje wysokich wyników poszczególnych podskal prowadziły do najwyższych wskaźników zdolności pozytywnej adaptacji u osób badanych. Powyższe rezultaty pozwalają pozytywnie ocenić trafność pomiaru funkcjonalności wychowawczej rodziny zastosowanym narzędziem badawczym. W toku dalszych badań należałoby potwierdzić strukturę narzędzia w losowo dobranych próbach zróżnicowanych wiekowo i kulturowo. Należałoby również więcej uwagi poświęcić potwierdzeniu trafności pomiaru zaprojektowanym narzędziem.
... Low self-control is another significant correlate of cyberbullying. The general theory of crime (GTC), a contemporary control theory, posits that criminal behaviors stem from an individual's inability to delay immediate gratification and avoid illegitimate means of achieving such gratification (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). The theory characterizes individuals with low self-control as impulsive, insensitive, physical, risk-seeking, and short-sighted. ...
The prevalence of cyberbullying among youths has garnered increasing attention, yet the offending-victimization overlap in this domain remains underexplored, particularly in non-Western contexts. Employing both traditional and innovative methodological approaches, this study addresses this gap by integrating the theoretical frameworks of social bonds theory (SBT), the general theory of crime (GTC), differential association theory (DAT), and lifestyle-routine activity theory (LRAT), alongside a gendered perspective. Drawing on a sample of 8797 Chinese college students, this research mainly utilizes multinomial logistic regression and heteroskedasticity-consistent standard error (HCSE) estimators to systematically analyze the correlates of cyberbullying overlap. The results indicate that weaker social bonds, low self-control, frequent associations with deviant peers, and engagement in high-risk lifestyles are significant predictors of cyberbullying overlap across both methodological approaches. Furthermore, gender differences moderate the relationships between theoretical constructs and cyberbullying overlap, underscoring the importance of gender-sensitive policy interventions. This study advances the theoretical understanding and methodological assessment of cyberbullying overlap, offering critical insights for interventions tailored to the specific risks and sociocultural contexts faced by youths.
... Delinquency carries high social and financial costs. A key driver of delinquency is the tendency to prioritize the present and to ignore or neglect the longer term consequences of one's behavior (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990;Van Gelder & Frankenhuis, 2025). This tendency may be related to the degree to which people identify with their 'future self' (e.g., Hershfield, 2011;Van Gelder et al., 2015, 2022. ...
The opportunities technology offers for improving mental health have led to a surge in digital interventions. A pivotal step in the development of such interventions involves translating theoretical intervention techniques into specific technological features. However, practical guidelines on how to approach this translation are currently underdeveloped. To support efforts to develop digital mental health interventions, from theoretical inception to an actual digital intervention, we present the Digital Intervention Development Guide (DID-Guide). The DID-Guide is structured into two distinct phases. Phase 1 establishes the intervention's theoretical foundation, outlining the steps for developing a theoretical intervention framework. Phase 2 translates this theoretical framework into actionable technological features, that make up the intervention. We break down the DID-Guide's two phases into a series of actionable steps, accompanied by concrete examples from a recent intervention that can be delivered through both a smartphone app and Virtual Reality. The DID-Guide serves as a comprehensive resource for creating impactful digital mental health interventions, while also facilitating collaboration and communication among a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, and software developers.
... Trait self-control refers to an individual's general capacity to regulate their behavior, thoughts, and emotions indicated by a superior proficiency to alter or override impulsive or dominant responses (De Ridder et al., 2012). Individuals reporting 'good' trait selfcontrol exhibit good self-regulatory capacity affording an advantage toward engaging in goaldirected behavioral pursuit and negating potentially distracting or derailing contingencies (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Unsurprisingly, trait self-control has been consistently associated with health behavior participation (De Ridder et al., 2012;Wood, 2016). ...
Theoretically, self‐control can be considered as both a facilitator of habit development and a moderator of whether behavior occurs habitually. However, debate remains on the contexts in which such relationships are likely to occur. The current study tested whether self‐control, conceptualized into inhibitory and initiatory facets, would predict healthy behavior via habits or moderate the habit‐behavior relationship, and whether these effects differed across complex (bootcamp attendance N = 69, physical activity in pregnant women N = 115) and simple (flossing N = 254) behaviors. Three independent samples completed measures of self‐control and habit, followed by a prospective measure of behavior. Data were fitted to PLS‐SEM models. Inhibitory and initiatory self‐control predicted habit in all three samples, and habit in turn predicted each health behavior. Inhibitory self‐control only moderated the effect of habit in the bootcamp and physical activity samples. Initiatory self‐control did not moderate effects in any sample. Findings indicate that both initiatory and inhibitory self‐control are associated with habit. Further, as the moderating effect of inhibitory self‐control was only present in the complex behavior samples, results suggest the moderating effects of self‐control on the habit‐behavior relationship may be best represented by the effect of inhibiting competing cues from disrupting automatically activated behavioral sequences.
... There has been some debate as to whether cybercrime should be viewed through the same lenses as traditional crime-"old wine in new bottle" [39,40]-or a new crime type-"new wine, no bottles" [41]-requiring new theoretical explanations [42,43]. While this debate continues, researchers have attempted to establish the scientific value and relevance of a number of different traditional theories emanating from the field of criminology, psychology, and sociology, including, for example, the General Theory of Crime (GTC) [44], Routine Activity Theory (RAT) [45], Social Learning Theory (SLT) [46,47], Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) [48,49], Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) [50], and flow theory [51,52]. These efforts were followed by the establishment of more contemporary theories in cyberpsychology, such as the Online Disinhibition Effect (ODE) [53]. ...
Background: Over the course of the last decade, cybercrime has become a significant global concern. A comprehensive approach to crimes that occur in cyber contexts needs to address not only the technological aspects of cybercrime but also the human elements. Therefore, the aim of the current research is twofold: first, to gain an in-depth understanding of the pathways that lead to criminal hacking behavior through interviews with current or former criminal hackers, and second, to explore how the lived experiences of these individuals fit within theoretical explanations of hacking. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of ten current and former criminal hackers. Participants for this study were recruited through social media and hacker forums. Interviews were conducted from November 2023 to March 2024. Data collected during the interviews were analyzed through a process of thematic analysis. Focusing on the lived experiences of these hackers, a “pathway of hacking” behavior, expanding upon those proposed in research emanating from Europe, was identified. Findings: Notably, the current study found that young males who are curious and creative in childhood, experience destabilizing events, and develop an early interest in technology are well placed to follow the pathway to criminal hacking behavior. Online gaming was identified as a possible gateway to criminal hacking activities. A sense of overcoming a challenge, being elite, and having “control over the machine” encourages youth to continue criminal hacking activities. In addition to the identification of a criminal hacking pathway, an integration of existing cyberpsychological, psychological, criminological, and sociological theories is presented to provide a theoretical explanation for the initiation, continuation, and desistence of criminal hacking behavior. This work represents the first effort to present an integration of theories (e.g., Social Learning, General Theory of Crime, Flow, and the cyberpsychological theoretical construct of the “Online Disinhibition Effect”) based on the stages of the criminal hacking pathway.
... For control theories, crime occurs when there is a relative absence of internalized norms and rules governing behavior that conform to socialized norms and rules (Reiss, 1951). Subsequent control theories have focused upon techniques of neutralization (Sykes & Matza, 1957), containment (Reckless, 1967, social control (Hirschi, 1969), and self-control (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) respectively. While rarely studied with regard to terrorism and especially TMCEs (Becker, 2021), it should be noted that the control theory perspective is the most frequently tested and endorsed theory within criminology (Walsh & Ellis, 1999) with multiple meta-analyses demonstrating that increased self and social control are related to reduced crime and delinquency (Pratt & Cullen, 2000;Piquero et al., 2010Piquero et al., , 2016. ...
Introduction: Terrorist lethality has emerged as a key metric for evaluating counterterrorism success. Recent research, however, questions whether terrorist mass casualty events (TMCEs) are consistent with existing theories of terrorism and across heterogeneous terrorist ideological motivations.
Objectives: This study examines previously understudied control and learning theories and their impact on the likelihood of TMCEs from 1983-2020.
Methods: Leveraging the Profiles on Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) dataset, this study examines the causal conditions associated with TMCEs using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA).
Results: Across the three ideological motivations examined, too many unique pathways to TMCEs emerged to suggest support for either theoretical perspective. Further, some conditions, including education, were both risk and protective factors suggesting important unexplained heterogeneity.
... A general theory of crime argues that adolescents with low self-control are more likely to commit delinquency and crimes (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Indeed, studies have found that adolescents are prone to commit crimes because they struggle with delaying instant gratification and impulsivity (Gibbs & Giever, 1995;Pratt & Cullen, 2000). ...
The influence of the patriarchal family environment on deviance has been limited to offline harassment perpetration. This study examines its impact on online harassment perpetration, incorporating moderating effects of differential association with peers engaging in online harassment and low self-control. Students attending universities in Seoul, South Korea, were surveyed about online harassment perpetration via smartphones. The OLS regression analysis of a sample of 301 students reveals that the patriarchal family environment is significantly associated with online harassment perpetration, with a notably more pronounced effect among men. Additionally, peer association showed enhancing effects, but this was significant only among women.
... Several studies have identified correlations between certain personality traits and an increased propensity for criminal behavior. For instance, Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) General Theory of Crime posits that low self-control is a key factor in criminal conduct. This theory has been supported by numerous empirical studies, including a meta-analysis by Pratt and Cullen (2000), which found a robust link between low self-control and various forms of criminal and analogous behaviors. ...
The Paper provides an in-depth study of economic crimes, utilising social network dynamics and psychological factors to present a full analysis. This innovative publication examines the dynamic relationship among individuals, organisations, and society systems, unravelling the complex of financial fraud, cybercrime, and white-collar offences. The paper draws on several academic disciplines to offer a detailed insight into how criminal behaviours occur within social networks and the underlying motivations of the perpetrators. The case study examines the complex dynamics involved in economic crimes, such as Ponzi schemes and corporate wrongdoing. These studies provide insight into the behavioural patterns and decision-making processes of individuals who commit fraud. Moreover, the paper explores the impact of technology on both enabling and countering financial crimes, providing valuable perspectives on novel methods for detecting and preventing such activities. Through the utilisation of sophisticated analytics and computational techniques, academics and practitioners acquire practical insights to detect suspicious actions and protect against fraudulent schemes. Furthermore, "Crime and Fraud Detection" examines the psychological aspects of economic crimes, investigating the cognitive biases, personality traits, and situational circumstances that impact individual’s inclination to participate in illegal activities. The paper also offers a comprehensive view of the complex relationship between human psychology and criminal behaviour, using a combination of empirical data and theoretical frameworks. "Crime and Fraud Detection" provides an essential view into combatting financial misconduct and upholding integrity in the digital age by uncovering the complex workings of social networks and psychological motivations.
... Ultimately, everyone in our sample had committed homicide. If, as has been postulated by theorists, a lack of self-control is the cause of crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990), one would reasonably expect most homicide offenders to display relatively low levels of self-control. ...
... The Capacity approach in compliance studies considers legal knowledge (van Rooij, 2021), together with rule interpretation and legal language as major factors influencing compliance. Self-control theory (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) also falls under this approach, as it posits that it is when individuals fail to develop or establish adequate levels of internal controls it results in non-compliance or crime (Pratt & Lloyd, 2021). It is, nonetheless, challenging to account for without going into specific psychological data collection to avoid methodological caveats (van Rooij, 2021). ...
This paper aims to explain producer compliance with Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS), instruments of private governance regarded as key to solving sustainability issues in global value chains. We employ a dataset of 194 Colombian coffee producers who are certified by one or more VSS to break down the factors leading to farmer compliance with environmental criteria linked to VSS. In total, we analyse 19 environmental criteria, derived from 10 obligations from five different sustainability standards. We expect compliance to be explained by different theoretical approaches, being either rational choice, capacity, legitimacy, or opportunity, operationalised by grouping related variables. Rational choice and legitimacy-related drivers, as well as opportunity, show mostly positive, mild to strong effects on compliance, while capacity variables show no significant effect. We propose that a hybrid approach among theories explains coffee farmers' compliance with environmental VSS requirements, empowering policy-makers and standard setters to adjust practices and policies accordingly.
Justice-involved individuals convicted of crimes involving violence are often depicted as chaotic, whereas the chaos they encounter in criminal justice institutions is not commonly reported. Nonetheless, we found that chaos can be co-constituted at points where justice-involved individuals and justice institutions intersect. Our findings are drawn from qualitative research on a pharmacotherapy trial designed to reduce violence: Reducing impulsivity in repeat violent offenders using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, ReINVEST. Data were analysed using a grounded inductive approach and we drew on Law and Lock and Nguyen's innovative theories of “mess” and “entanglement” respectively. Analysis and theoretical explication revealed themes of entanglement, conflicting justice cultures, unacknowledged dysfunction in justice institutions, and negative impacts of bias. We propose these aspects of the co-constitution of chaos are considered in the creation of person-centered policy, and non-discriminatory, safe criminal justice spaces.
Employee misconduct (EM) is a significant issue in law enforcement agencies, where officers may exploit their authority for personal gain. Grounded in the General Strain Theory (GST), General Theory of Crime (GTC) and Fraud Triangle Theory (FTT), this study aims to investigate the role of stress as a mediating factor between various antecedents (self-control, integrity, organizational justice, politics, salary, financial pressure, and lifestyle) and EM, specifically within the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP). Data was gathered through two structured questionnaires administered to both employees and their supervisors using a quantitative research design. A total of 428 police officers from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Perak, and Sabah participated in the study. The findings show that self-control, organizational justice, salary, and financial pressure significantly influence stress and EM, while integrity, organizational politics, and lifestyle do not. Furthermore, stress was found to partially mediate the relationship between these antecedents (self-control, organizational justice, salary, financial pressure) and EM. This study is the first to explore the mediating effect of stress on EM within a Malaysian law enforcement context, and the integration of individual, organizational, and socio-economic factors into a unified model represents a novel contribution to the study of misconduct in law enforcement agencies.
This study is designed to test whether low self-control moderates the relationship between anger and violent behavior of youth. To that aim, two waves of panel data from the Korean Youth Panel Survey were employed ( N = 3132) to estimate the moderating effect of low self-control between anger and violent behavior by youth. The results suggested that aggressive youth with low self-control are more likely to engage in violent behavior, and low self-control is found to exert significant conditional effects on the relationship between anger and violent behavior of youth.
Previous research has consistently linked childhood trauma to criminal behavior in adulthood, yet the mechanisms driving this association remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether identity mediates this relationship, focusing on three identity constructs: consolidated identity, disturbed identity, and lack of identity. Criminal behavior was operationalized as a dichotomous variable, distinguishing between 103 community participants (53.9%) and 88 forensic psychiatric patients (46.1%) in a sample of 191 male participants (Mage = 39.82, SDage = 14.14). Mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro model 4, controlling for age and overall personality dysfunction. The results demonstrated that childhood trauma was associated with adult criminal behavior. Additionally, childhood trauma was positively associated with lack of identity but showed no significant effect on consolidated and disturbed identity. Likewise, lack of identity was the only identity variable associated with criminal behavior and emerged as the sole mediator between childhood trauma and criminal behavior. These findings underscore the important role of identity, particularly the lack of identity, in understanding pathways to criminal behavior. Interventions aimed at strengthening individuals' sense of self may help mitigate criminal tendencies in individuals with a history of childhood trauma, though longitudinal research is needed to further validate these findings.
Short videos, with their brevity and high entertainment value, attract many adolescent users. However, prolonged viewing may negatively impact adolescents’ cognitive development, especially self-control and academic performance. This study explores the impact of the family environment on adolescents’ addiction to short videos and reveals the intrinsic role of psychological capital and self-control in the relationship between the family environment and adolescents’ short video addiction. Based on ecosystem theory, a hypothetical model was constructed in which psychological capital and self-control serve as chained mediators in the influence of the family environment on short video addiction. Revised scales for family environment, psychological capital, self-control, and short video addiction were used to conduct a survey among 1,735 middle school students from five provinces in China (51.7% male; M age = 15.2, SD = 1.8). This study found that: (1) A positive family environment, psychological capital, and self-control are significantly negatively correlated with adolescents’ short video addiction; (2) The mediating effect of psychological capital between the family environment and short video addiction is not significant; (3) Self-control has a significant mediating effect between the family environment and short video addiction (6.8%); (4) Psychological capital and self-control have a significant chained mediating effect between the family environment and short video addiction (12.8%). The family environment has a significant impact on adolescents’ short video addiction. Close family relationships and rich family recreational activities help reduce the risk of addiction. Psychological capital and self-control play important mediating roles in the relationship between the family environment and short video addiction. Enhancing adolescents’ psychological capital and self-control abilities can effectively prevent and intervene in addiction issues.
While extensive research exists on the severe consequences among rape victims, little is known about specific predictors in relation to rape convictions among immigrants to Europe. This study from Sweden (having one of Europe’s highest per capita rates of rape) investigates individuals convicted of rape, aggravated rape, attempted rape, or attempted aggravated rape, collectively termed as rape+, against women 18 years or older, from 2000 to 2020. In this case-control study, we analyzed data from Swedish population-based registers. The analysis includes 4,032 individuals convicted of rape+ and 20,160 matched controls. We used logistic regression models to examine the relationship between immigrant background and rape+ convictions, while adjusting for several potential confounders. We found that 36.9% of the convicted individuals and 69.5% of the controls were Swedish-born with two Swedish-born parents. The odds of being convicted of rape were higher for individuals with an immigrant background across all models. After adjusting for potential confounders (socioeconomic status, substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, and criminal behavior), these odds decreased but remained significant, especially for those born outside Sweden and arriving at age 15 or older. Our findings reveal a strong link between immigrant background and rape convictions that remains after statistical adjustment. The mechanisms behind the overrepresentation of individuals with an immigrant background among those convicted of rape+ need further exploration.
One possible explanation for the lack of pro‐environmental behavior among the public is that the benefits of combating climate change are long‐term and distant. Temporal discounting is a pervasive tendency to prefer small immediate gains to large delayed benefits, which may lead to a lack of motivation to engage in pro‐environmental behavior. However, exposure to nature can reduce this tendency and by extension may promote pro‐environmental behavior. Two behavioral experiments were conducted to investigate whether exposure to natural (vs. urban) scenes would induce lower discounting and increase the tendency toward pro‐environmental behavior. We demonstrated that exposure to natural (vs. urban) scenes was associated with a lower level of discounting and a greater tendency toward pro‐environmental behavior, including energy‐saving use of air conditioning (Experiment 1), willingness to participate in beach cleaning (Experiment 2), and choosing meals with less environmental impact (Experiment 2). Mediation analysis indicated that the discounting tendency mediated the relationship between exposure to natural scenes and pro‐environmental behavior. This study provides the first experimental evidence that temporal discounting accounts for the association between exposure to natural (vs. urban) scenes and the tendency toward pro‐environmental behavior. Our findings support the development of a novel strategy for promoting pro‐environmental behavior.
A base model was tested composed of insecure attachment at age 3 years, poor emotional and behavioral self-regulation at age 5 years, and weak empathy at age 9 years predicted delinquency at age 15 years with and without the intervening influence of two dimensions of antisocial cognition: moral neutralization and cognitive impulsivity, both of which were assessed at age 15 years. Participants were 1,699 youth (867 boys, 832 girls) from the Future of Families Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). While the base model did not predict delinquency, there was a significant indirect effect when additional mediators, moral neutralization and cognitive impulsivity, intervened between weak empathy and self-reported delinquency. This suggests that the attachment → self-regulation → empathy sequence may be a developmental pathway that moral neutralization and cognitive impulsivity share in common, expanding upon previous research which has shown that these two dimensions of antisocial cognition have divergent developmental origins.
Objective: to reveal the similarities and differences between female and male discrete offender groups (desisters, persisters, late onseters, and conformers).
Methods: dialectical approach to cognition of social phenomena, allowing to analyze them in historical development and functioning in the context of the totality of objective and subjective factors, which predetermined the following research methods: formal-logical and sociological.
Results: while some researchers have concluded that psycho-social predictors of crime are similar across gender, other criminologists have argued that predictors of crime may vary between females and males. The results from this investigation reveal some similarities and differences in the risk factors between discrete offender groups by gender and the predictors of female and male desistance from crimes. Therefore, researchers studying desistance cannot assume the generality of effects of variables across gender; rather, they must also consider the possibility of specific effects of predictors on female and male desistance.
Scientific novelty: Over the past several decades, researchers have more fervently examined female offending. The criminal career research paradigm put forth by Blumstein and colleagues in 1986 offers an opportunity for researchers to examine offending, including female offending, from multiple perspectives including onset, persistence, and desistance from a multitude of theoretical traditions. Using data from the National Youth Survey, this investigation examined the similarities and/or differences between female and male discrete offender groups (desisters, persisters, late onseters, and conformers) and theoretical predictors of desistance and persistence from less serious crimes. Results of the research revealed significant gender differences between the discrete offender groups as well as similarities and differences between the genders in predictors of desistance and persistence for less serious crimes.
Practical significance: the main provisions and conclusions of the article can be used in scientific, pedagogical and law enforcement activities when considering the issues related to preventing and eliminating crimes.
Females are serving terms in custody for their involvements in armed robbery but there are limited published articles in this regard in Nigeria. However, factors that make females vulnerable and pull them into armed robbery have been assumed to be same with the males which may not be correct. This study therefore, examined the peculiar push and pull factors that predispose females into armed robbery in Nigeria. It is hinged on Differential Association theory by Sutherland (1947). The key participants purposefully selected were sixty-one female armed robbery convicts in custody at the three major correctional centers in three southwestern states in Nigeria; Lagos, Ogun and Oyo in 2022. Interviews were conducted to elicit information from the participants and data gathered were thematically analyzed bringing out themes derived from the interviews. The study revealed that majority of the females involved in armed robbery were pushed into it based on their emotional attachments to male armed robbers, assistance rendered to the males in their hustling and deals while many were pulled into it because of the financial gains attached to it. The study therefore recommends amongst others that females need to consider their family background, family name, future, not immediate gratification, and the effects of their actions on their significant others before rendering any assistance or actions that violate the laws to anyone including females.
Growing concerns over Chinese investment have spurred stricter national security reviews globally, yet compliance and enforcement within these reviews remain understudied. This paper examines the enforcement mechanisms of national security review in Singapore and Taiwan, key trade partners with China. It contrasts Singapore's emphasis on rigorous ex post monitoring with Taiwan's focus on restrictive ex ante screening. To strengthen public enforcement, Singapore relies on privatized monitoring while Taiwan incorporates private enforcement. This study argues that robust state oversight through public enforcement is critical for compliance, but underscores the importance of extending enforcement beyond the initial investment stage to include post‐entry monitoring. Additionally, incorporating market intermediaries as enforcement agents presents a promising approach. This comparative analysis contributes to a richer understanding of national security review enforcement beyond traditional US‐centric framework.
A growing body of research suggests that the development of preschoolers’ self-control in intergenerational coparenting families is related to the parent-grandparent coparenting relationship. However, little is known about their bidirectional association and the mechanism. This study aimed at investigating the longitudinal interrelationship between mother-grandmother coparenting relationship and preschoolers’ self-control, and exploring the role of mother-child attachment. A total of 280 Chinese intergenerational coparenting families involved in this study with a one-year cross-lagged design. Mother-grandmother coparenting relationship, preschoolers’ self-control, and mother-child attachment were measured at each stage of the year (T1, T2, and T3). Results indicated that mother-grandmother coparenting relationship positively predicted mother-child attachment, and mother-child attachment positively predicted preschoolers’ self-control. Although we did not find the direct association between mother-grandmother coparenting relationship and preschoolers’ self-control, our findings indicated that mother-grandmother coparenting relationship was indirectly related to preschoolers’ self-control through mother-child attachment. Additionally, we found a longitudinally bidirectional relationship between mother-child attachment and preschoolers’ self-control. This study extends our understanding of the relationship between intergenerational coparenting relationship and child development and provides implications for improving the parenting quality in intergenerational coparenting families.
Research exploring online fraud has largely focused on victim characteristics, limiting our knowledge of the factors influencing individuals’ risk of engaging in fraud offenses. It is essential that researchers understand the early-onset risk factors for fraud offending to develop better strategies to prevent behavior and reduce victimization. To address this gap in the literature, this study explored the relationship between self-control, opportunity, and two forms of online fraud in a sample of youth. The results illustrated that self-control and deviant peer associations increase the risk of acquiring personal information and funds from victims, though different online behaviors were associated with each offense. The implications of this study for our understanding of both criminological theory and policy are discussed in detail.
Low parental monitoring is a well-established risk factor for and presumed cause of teen problem behavior. However, an integrated theory for how monitoring changes teen behavior has not been articulated. We propose a model in which parental monitoring can reduce teen misbehavior via nine mechanisms organized into behavior-management (B), context-control (C), and relationship/support-mediated (R) domains (BCR model). Parental monitoring increases the expectation and actual occurrence of punishment for misbehavior (B), enables the parent to steer the teens’ socialization contexts (peers, nonparent adults, siblings, media) away from those that encourage misbehavior (C), and strengthens the teen’s bond to parent, disclosure of information, and receipt of social support (R)—all of which in turn reduce misbehavior.
Impulsive reactions in social interactions may result in poor or even detrimental outcomes. Particular cognitive states, such as mental fatigue induced by extended practice with cognitively demanding activities, especially if combined with sleep restriction or deprivation, seem to impair the individuals’ ability to exert self-control effectively and may result in impulsive behaviors, including aggressive acts. We demonstrate that exertion of self-control for as little as 45 min can lead to an increased propensity for engaging in aggressive acts in the context of socially relevant choices, as measured by a set of economic games. Also, we show that such behavioral changes are associated with increased sleep-like (delta) activity within frontal brain areas related to decision-making and impulse control. The local occurrence of sleep-like slow waves may lead to a disengagement of frontal areas and explain the reduced ability of individuals to exert self-control effectively. Our results suggest that sleep-like activity may emerge within the awake brain within a relatively short time scale, with detectable effects on socially relevant behavior.
We extend scarce research on the age-crime relationship involving Global South countries by investigating age-arrest patterns in the African countries of Botswana and Namibia. Our analysis included comparisons of Botswana age-crime distributions with (a) the reverse J-shaped invariance curve proposed by Hirschi and Gottfredson; (b) US age-arrest curves; and (c) Taiwan and South Korea age-arrest curves. On the one hand, the findings revealed considerable divergence in Botswana age-crime patterns compared with the HG invariance projection. On the other hand, there was considerable similarity of Botswana age-arrest distributions with those observed in Taiwan and South Korea (i.e., collectivist countries) as reported recently by Steffensmeier and colleagues. Within all these nations, we find “older” age-crime curves yielded by low prevalence of adolescent and young-adult crime combined with higher midlife rates (30–49), as opposed to US age patterns and the HG invariance premise that display high adolescent rates in combination with smaller young-adult rates and shrinking midlife rates. Future directions for studying “why” societies differ in age-crime patterns entail going beyond the study of adolescence (only) to also address what happens in peoples’ lives past adolescence—i.e., what pressures, strains, temptations, circumstances, and crime opportunities are faced by peoples during the 30 s and 40 s, the midlife stage.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.