A theory published by Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi in A General Theory of Crime, 1990, holding that low self-control, formed by ineffective parenting in early childhood, is the primary individual-level cause of crime, and that criminal acts are characteristically impulsive and opportunistic. It extends Hirschis earlier social bond theory from external bonds to an internalized trait. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Core ClaimSourced to the subject's own accountLow self-control established in early childhood, more than any social circumstance later in life, drives criminal and analogous impulsive behavior. 1 Origin YearSourced to the subject's own account Standing CritiqueSourced to the subject's own accountRonald Akers argued in 1991 that the theory fails to define self-control and criminal propensity as distinct, measurable concepts, making it hard to test without circularity; critics also find it underweights peer influence. 1 Connections
Associated With
Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory characterizes offending as impulsive and short-sighted, weighing immediate gratification over diffuse long-term risk; driving under the influence is a standard secondary-literature illustration of exactly that trade-off.
Source Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Developed By
Source Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Source Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Informed By
Self-control theory extends Hirschis social bond account from external bonds to an internalized trait formed in childhood.
Source Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Lead section
The general theory of crime is a criminological theory about the lack of individual self-control as the main factor behind criminal behavior.
- Developed By: Michael R. Gottfredson
- Developed By: Travis Hirschi
- Informed By: Social Control Theory
Associated With: Driving Under the Influence, General theory of crime section
criminal acts are often markedly non-controlled; they are both opportunistic and short-sighted
View the SourceWikipedia: Michael R. Gottfredson
Self-control theory of crime sectionQuote, Self-control theory of crime section
The theory was developed by Travis Hirschi and Gottfredson.
Wikipedia: Travis Hirschi
In Group: Social Control and Self-Control Theories, Lead sentenceQuote, In Group: Social Control and Self-Control Theories, Lead sentence
Travis Warner Hirschi (April 15, 1935, January 2, 2017) was an American sociologist and an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Arizona. He helped to develop the modern version of the social control theory of crime and later the self-control theory of crime.
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