NCJ Number
225869
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Journal Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2009 Pages: 147-162
Date Published
February 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the contributors to the development of self-control.
Abstract
Results revealed that a combination of biological and socialization risk factors produced variation in levels of self-control. Three socialization measures: parental punishment, family rules, and neighborhood disadvantage, had statistically significant effects on some of the low self-control measures. Variations in the Low Self-Control Scale also appeared to be influenced by biological factors. Of the three biological variables included in the analyses, only neuropsychological deficits surfaced as a significant predictor of levels of self-control. The neuropsychological deficits measure was the only variable to be predictive of all six low self-control measures, and it had, in most of the equations, the strongest effect on low self-control. This finding is in line with emerging perspectives showing that self-control is a brain-based function and that levels of self-control can be adversely affected by any factor that interrupts or interferes with normal brain development. Research also examined the relationship between low self-control and delinquent involvement; all six low self-control scales were associated with variation in the delinquency scale. The parental punishment scale was a significant predictor of delinquency in four of the six models, but the Family Rules Index and the Neighborhood Disadvantage Scale were not consistently related to delinquency. None of the biological variables had significant, direct effects on delinquency. Tables, notes, and references