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Examining Self-Control as a Multidimensional Predictor of Crime and Drug Use in Adolescents with Criminal Histories

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Abstract

The general theory of crime posits that variability in propensities to engage in crime and deviance is partly a function of individual differences in low self-control (LSC). LSC is hypothesized to comprise of six subdomains: impulsiveness, preference for physical activities, risk seeking, self-centeredness, preference for simple tasks, and volatile temper. Using structural equation modeling, LSC was examined to determine if a global self-control measure or a multidimensional measure of its subdomains was a more salient predictor of violent and property crimes and drug use among adolescent male offenders (n = 317). Only the multidimensional model adequately fit the data. Risk seeking predicted violent and property crimes, whereas volatile temper predicted violent crimes and drug use. The general theory of crime may obscure differences in the explanatory power of self-control subfactors for specific types of crime, especially within at-risk youth. Findings have implications for effective interventions among adolescent males with criminal histories.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, 1640 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA, 90025, USA

    Bradley T. Conner PhD & Douglas Longshore PhD

  2. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, P.O. Box 951563, 3566 Franz Hall, 3566 Franz Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Judith A. Stein PhD

  3. Drug Policy Research Center, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA

    Douglas Longshore PhD

Authors
  1. Bradley T. Conner PhD
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  2. Judith A. Stein PhD
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  3. Douglas Longshore PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bradley T. Conner PhD.

Additional information

Support for this research was provided by Grants N01-DA-1-8408, R01-DA-12476, and P01-DA01070-34 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The authors would like to acknowledge the editorial support of M. Douglas Anglin.

Douglas Longshore died December 2005.

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Conner, B.T., Stein, J.A. & Longshore, D. Examining Self-Control as a Multidimensional Predictor of Crime and Drug Use in Adolescents with Criminal Histories. J Behav Health Serv Res 36, 137–149 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-008-9121-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-008-9121-7

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