The General Theory of Crime Revisited: Comparing the Relative Effects of Parental Responsiveness and Parental Behavioral Control on Aggressive and Nonaggressive Antisocial Behavior in Adolescence

ABSTRACT

Using data collected from middle schools in China in 2018, we extend the general theory of crime beyond its focus on low self-control as the leading cause of all crimes and compare the relative impact of parental behavioral control and parental responsiveness on adolescent antisocial behavior. We highlight the etiological distinctions between aggressive and nonaggressive antisocial behavior and find that maternal responsiveness reduces adolescents’ aggressive antisocial behavior through fostering students’ self-control and reduces nonaggressive antisocial behavior through boosting students’ self-esteem.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support from the University of Macau (Research Project: MYRG2015-00168-FSS, University of Macau). We have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ The results are available on request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Macau [MYRG2015-00168-FSS].

Notes on contributors

Hongyu Wang

Hongyu Wang is an associate professor of sociology at University of Macau. Her research interests include the study of the consequences of parenting styles on adolescent outcomes and social psychology.

Yi Li

Yi Li is an assistant professor of sociology at University of Macau. He is interested in how social environments and genes jointly influence human behavior. He is also interested in marriage, population health, and quantitative methods.

Tianji Cai

Tianji Cai is an associate professor of sociology at University of Macau. His research focuses on quantitative research methods, text mining and social network. In addition, he is also interested in integrating genetics and sociology in the studies of social and health behaviors.

Chunlian Jiang

Chunlian Jiang is an assistant professor of mathematics education at the University of Macau. She received her PhD in mathematical problem solving from Nanyang Technological University in 2005. Her research interests include mathematical problem solving and problem posing, use of IT in mathematics teaching and learning, and high-stakes examinations.