Description
Since Gottfredson and Hirschi proposed the general theory of crime, the direct link between self-control and delinquency has gained strong empirical support, and low self-control is now considered as a significant predictor of individual delinquent behaviors. However, the indirect link

Since Gottfredson and Hirschi proposed the general theory of crime, the direct link between self-control and delinquency has gained strong empirical support, and low self-control is now considered as a significant predictor of individual delinquent behaviors. However, the indirect link between self-control and delinquency still remains understudied. This study fills this void by introducing thoughtfully reflective decision making (TRDM), an important factor intimated by rational choice theory, as the mediator of the relationship between low self-control and delinquency. Using self-reported data from the city of Changzhi, China, this study finds that self-control is closely related to TRDM, low self-control is a significant predictor of general and non-violent delinquency, and TRDM does not mediate the effect of low self-control on delinquency. Findings from this study largely support the generalizability of self-control theory under the Chinese cultural environment, and also suggest that it might be fruitful to test other criminological theories in the Chinese context. The study's findings and their implications for theory and research are discussed.
Reuse Permissions
  • Downloads
    PDF (127.9 KB)
    Download count: 4

    Details

    Title
    • Thoughtfully reflective decision making as a mediator [electronic resource]: examining the indirect effect of self-control on delinquency
    Contributors
    Date Created
    2014
    Resource Type
  • Text
  • Collections this item is in
    Note
    • thesis
      Partial requirement for: M.S., Arizona State University, 2014
    • bibliography
      Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-33)
    • Field of study: Criminology and criminal justice

    Citation and reuse

    Statement of Responsibility

    by Wenrui Zhang

    Machine-readable links