Gottfredson and Hirschi's low self-control theory: An empirical test using Hispanic university students
Abstract
Low self-control theory posits that those with low self-control are more likely to commit criminal or analogous acts than those with high self-control. The authors of the theory, Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi, also claim great generality for low self-control theory, such that the theory can explain any type of crime by any type of person. This study tests Gottfredson and Hirschi's low self-control theory's basic prediction as well as its generality claim. To this end, the theory is tested with a Hispanic sample of undergraduate students. Only until recently have a few cross-cultural studies been done to test its generality claim (see Tittle and Botchkovar 2005; Vazsonyi et al. 2001; Vazsonyi et al. 2004; Morris et al. 2007; Romero et al. 2003) and the present study follows this emerging research agenda. It then becomes interesting to see if this theory could be applicable to understanding deviance among Hispanics.
Subject Area
Criminology|Hispanic Americans
Recommended Citation
Rocha, Claudia Sarah, "Gottfredson and Hirschi's low self-control theory: An empirical test using Hispanic university students" (2008). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1453831.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1453831