A General Theory of Crime Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990)

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A General Theory of CrimeGottfredson and Hirschi
(1990)

• OOPS -Travis Hirschi

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The Nature of Crime and Criminals
Criminal Acts Provide immediate gratification
of desires Are risky/thrilling Are
easy/simple Require little skill/planning Provide
few/meager long term benefits Result in
pain/discomfort to a victim
Criminals are therefore Impulsive Risk-taking
Physical (as opposed to mental) Low verbal
ability Short-sighted Insensitive
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Low Self-Control

• The cluster of traits (impulsive, insensitive)
  tend to come together in people
• They are present before crime
• They tend to persist through life
• Personality? GH argue against this

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Causes of Low Self-Control

• We are all born without self-control
• Self Control is established in early childhood
  (age 8)
• Causes must be in early childhood
• Parents failure to supervise, recognize, punish
• Straight from Patterson, but no role for
  positive learning (positive reinforcement)
• Biology? Infants might differ on impulsiveness
  or verbal abilitybut all can be socialized.

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Implications of Low Self-Control

• The sole cause of crime and analogous behaviors
  
• All Crime?
• Analogous Behaviors?
• Explains stability of criminality
• Low self-control is stable over time
• What does this mean for Hirschis social bonds?

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2 Explanations
(Social Selection Social Causation)
Social Bonds Low Self Control Crime
Pure Social Selection
Poverty,
Delinquent Peers,
Social Bonds, Poverty Low Self Control
Crime
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Empirical Support

• Tautology Problems
• Only if self control inferred frombehavioral
  measures (e.g., delinquency)
• Attitudinal measures
• I would you rather read a book than engage in
  physical activities.
• I tend to be value the here and now and do not
  like to plan my life.

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Empirical Support With Attitudinal Measures

• Moderate correlation with delinquency, crime, and
  analogous behaviors
• Controlling for low self-control weakens, but
  doesnt eliminate social causation
• In other words, it appears as though low
  self-control is not the sole cause of crime
• Are white collar offenders different from
  street offenders? (Some evidence they are)

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Policy Implications

• Low self-control stable after age 8
• Only early prevention can reduce crime
• Train parents, support parents??
• Typical rehabilitation wont reduce crime
• Changing bonds wont reduce crime

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REIVEW

• Scope?
• Parsimony?
• Criticisms?
• Why do people desist from criminal activity?
• Not the sole cause of crime
• Bonds still more important?