A cross-cultural validation of self-control theory

Abstract

Several core propositions of self-control theory were tested utilizing self-reported data gathered from university students in Malta, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. The results provide some support for the claim that ineffective parenting decreases self-control and strong support for the proposition that self-control increases deviant behavior. Additionally, tests of slope differences for key theoretical variables across samples generated findings that are largely consistent with the theory's cultural invariance thesis. Implications of the findings from this multinational test are discussed.

Keywords:

• self-control
• parenting
• cultural invariance
• general theory of crime

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Jacqueline Appardozzi at the University of Malta and Dr. Angela Shirley from the University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, for their assistance with this project.

An earlier version of this research was presented as part of the Dae Chang International Scholar Lecture series in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University.

Notes

1. Most studies included in this literature review do not compare two or more cultures across national boundaries and are not, strictly speaking, comparative methodologies. However, these single nation studies are included and can be compared to a large body of empirical work analyzing participants from the United States.

2. The current investigation focuses on research that includes populations outside of the United States. There are several cross-cultural comparisons of cultural groups – Native Americans, Whites, and African Americans – from the United States that report mixed support for the cultural invariance hypothesis (see, e.g., Morris, Wood, & Dunaway, 2006; Morris et al., 2007; Vazsonyi & Crosswhite, 2004).

3. Data retrieved from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/statistics/crime.html

4. Five items on the questionnaire were reverse coded.

5. Three questions from Vazsonyi et al. (2001) Normative Deviance Scale were omitted from the Norm Violation Index: (1) “Lied about your age to buy alcohol before you turned 21,” (2) “Stolen, taken, or tried to take something worth $10 or less, e.g., newspaper, pack of gum, mail, money, etc.,” (3) “Stolen, taken, or tried to take something worth between $10 and $100, e.g., shirt, watch, cologne, video game cartridge, shoes, money, etc.” Additionally, one question was changed from “Stolen, taken, or tried to take something worth more than $100, e.g., leather jacket, car stereo, bike, money, etc.” to “Stolen, taken, or tried to take something worth more than (please use the currency for your country): $100 USD for US participants, $668 TTD for Trinidad & Tobago participants, or $76 Euros or $33 Lira for Malta participants.”

6. Hirschi and Gottfredson (2003) added attachment to the effective parenting concept.

7. Male was statistically significant in 17 out of 21 models.