Correlates of Self-Control: An Empirical Test of Self-Control Theory

ABSTRACT Two important propositions flow from self-control theory. The first proposition (versatility) states that self-control as a general construct predicts various crimes and analogous acts. The second proposition (stability) assumes that self-control is a stable predictor over time. A deviant versatility index and an indirect measure of subsequent criminal behavior were constructed to test the implications from these two hypotheses. Using a sample of first-time apprehended property offenders, the results indicate that self-control: (1) can explain various deviant acts and a specific property crime; (2) is also significantly associated with offenders’ intentions to commit crime again.