Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime (1990) has received a great deal of empirical examination in the criminology, yet the application of this theory to white-collar crime offenders has not received a great deal of attention. Research that has been conducted in the realm of white-collar crime has yielded mixed support for low self-control in explaining such offenses (Simpson and Piquero, 2002; Reed and Yeager, 1996; Langton et al., 2006; Blickle, 2006). The current study seeks to supplement the literature by focusing not simply on the direct causal links between self-control and white-collar offending, but also exploring how attitudes play a role between self-control and intentions to engage in white-collar crime. Specifically, this study examines whether attitudes towards environmental offending mediate and moderate the relationship between self-control and intentions to engage in environmental white-collar crime. The results indicated that attitudes toward environmental offending did have a mediating effect, but the effect of attitudes did not significantly vary as a function of self-control. Subsequently, simple slopes analysis found that the effect of attitudes was only significant among those with average and high levels of self-control. Implications for the general theory of crime and future directions for white-collar crime research are discussed.

Self-control and various elements comprising this construct have received much credit over the years as it has been able to account for a large amount of variance in delinquency rates. Some research has suggested that individual difference factors (e.g., self-control) can overwhelm external factors (e.g., neighborhoods; see Loeber & Wikström, 2000). Others have found that social influences (e.g., employment; see Wright, et al, 2001) have more pronounced effects for those most at-risk. Because of the equivocal nature of the empirical findings, this study seeks to replicate and extend previous efforts. Specifically, the influence of constructs derived from social learning, control, deterrence, and strain are examined to see if any vary in their influence on adolescent offending as a function of self-control. Results indicate that all of these theoretical constructs (with the exception of paternal attachment) played a more important role among those who evinced the highest levels of self-control. Implications for criminological theory and criminal justice policy are discussed.

No description available.

This study measured police officers perception of the validity of General Theory of Crime. Using a sample of 117 officers and an adapted version of the Grasmick et al. (1993) self-control scale, this study measures the level of agreement officers exhibit that low self-control traits are present in property and violent offenders. Measurement is also performed to determine variation in officers agreement based on the personal characteristics gender, age, education, experience, and rank. Findings indicate officers show agreement with self-control items across the six dimensions of self control traits, as well as significant variation in agreement with the property offender self-control scale based on gender. Analysis on individual items of the property and violent offender self-control scales indicates significant variation in agreement on several items based on personal characteristics. Conclusions demonstrate the need for further studies measuring police perception of offenders and the validity of criminological theories. Limitations of this study are also discussed.

No description available.

La tesi si occupa del concetto di “riflessione critica” dell’autore di reato sull’illecito commesso. Secondo l’art. 27 d.P.R. 30 giugno 2000, n. 230, essa consiste in una riflessione dialogica concernente le condotte antigiuridiche e colpevoli, le correlate motivazioni, le conseguenze che discendono per l’autore medesimo e le possibili azioni di riparazione attuabili nella fase di esecuzione. La ricerca si sviluppa in cinque momenti: il primo capitolo focalizza l’attenzione sullo studio di un fondamento costituzionale del concetto di “riflessione critica”, anche al fine di una rinnovata lettura del finalismo rieducativo; il secondo capitolo mette in luce i punti di intersezione tra “riflessione critica” sull’illecito commesso e “teoria generale del reato”; il capitolo successivo offre una panoramica degli ostacoli e dei problemi operativi che impediscono la piena predisposizione di un modello responsabilizzante e che sollecitano ipotesi di riforma del sistema penale e penitenziario; nel quarto capitolo ci si sofferma sull’approfondimento delle premesse di un modello dialogico e riparativo di giustizia; quindi, il capitolo conclusivo si dedica a un’esplorazione dei confini e delle congruenze dei concetti di “rehabilitation” e “restorative justice”, per muovere oltre verso la considerazione di un modello di giustizia ispirato all’idea di “responsività” [John Braithwaite] e di “restorative justice dialogue” [Mark S. Umbreit]. In sostanza, lo studio mira a proporre un modello che faciliti, in modo dialogico e inclusivo, forme di responsabilità attiva nel settore penale. / The dissertation examines how offenders deal with “critical rethinking” on their crimes. According to art. 27 d.P.R. 30 June 2000, n. 230, it consists in a dialogical reflection on the wrongdoings they committed, their motivations, the consequences that follow on for the offenders themselves, and the possible reparations during the post-sentencing phase. The study is divided into five chapters. The first chapter focuses on the research for a constitutional basis of the “critical rethinking” and for a renewed understanding of the “finalismo rieducativo” (equivalent to the rehabilitative goal). The second chapter highlights the points of intersection between the “critical rethinking” and the “general theory of crime”. The third chapter summarizes the obstacles and the operative problems that hamper the implementation of this dialogical reflection and describes hints for a possible reform of the criminal justice system, particularly with regard to the post-sentencing phase. The fourth chapter proposes an in-depth analysis of some of the basic key-concepts for the introduction of a dialogical-restorative model of justice. Finally, the fifth chapter investigates the relationship between “rehabilitation” and “restorative justice” and takes into consideration a justice model that is inspired by “responsivity” [John Braithwaite] and “restorative justice dialogue” [Mark S. Umbreit]. By means of that, the study aims at providing a framework for an active assumption of responsibility in a more dialogical and inclusive culture.

對偏差行為的解釋有多種理論，不過以後天的角度詮釋偏差行為，則社會控制理論、自我控制理論是最有力的解釋理論。本研究亦欲圖驗證此兩種理論在多變量潛在成長模型的效用。因此，研究者採用臺灣教育長期追蹤資料庫之資料，以自我控制信念、親子關係、同儕關係、學校依附感、教育抱負、學業成就預測偏差行為之變化。此外，並探究性別對潛在成長模型之影響。茲將研究成果陳述如下。 1、偏差行為隨著年級逐漸增加，日益增加，變異數亦逐漸擴大。 2、整體多變量潛在成長模型中，整體模式適配度良好。 3、自變項對偏差行為截距、斜率解釋量分別為.19、.32，顯示模式的解釋量仍有改善空間，其中對截距之預測達顯著者，分別為同儕關係截距、學校依附感截距、學業成就截距、親子關係截距。對斜率之預測力達顯著者，分別為學校依附感斜率、學校依附感截距、同儕關係斜率、同儕關係截距、教育抱負截距。 4、運用多群組分析，發現男女生並無測量不變性。 5、性別對偏差行為有重要影響。 6、預測女生的斜率主要考量其學校依附感和同儕關係，但預測男生偏差行為的斜率除了與學校、同儕的關係外，還要考量其教育抱負。 最後，根據上述的結論，研究者分別提出實務、研究方法、未來偏差行為研究之建議，以作為參考。 / The cause of deviation behavior is explained by many theories. However, social control theory and self control theory are the most famous and important theories. Research would like to confirm the theories which are applied in multivariable latent growth curve model. Therefore, TEPS data are analyzed to investigate the model, and the results are as follows: (1)Deviation behavior gradually increases with time and variety of it also rises. (2)The fit of model is good. (3)The intercept is explained 19% by independent variables and the slope is explained 32%. In addition, it is significant for the intercept of the relation of peer group, attachment feeling of school, parental relation and academic achievement in the regression which is employed to anticipate the intercept. It is significant that the intercept of the relation of peer group, attachment feeling of school, and educational ambition and the slope of peer group, and attachment feeling of school can anticipate slope of deviation behavior effectively. (4)Employing multi-group analysis, there exist gender differences in the model. (5)Sex has influence on deviation behavior. (6)For girls, the slope of deviation behavior is anticipated by social relations, but for boys, besides the peer relationship, it is also included the educational ambition. According the results, some suggestions are proposed for future researches and the administration authority.

This Master thesis explores delinquency of juvenile Czechs and Germans from seventh to ninth grade based on quantitative data. The data comes from an International Self-Report Delinquency study (ISRD-2), which is anchored primarily in the Social control theory (Hirschi, 1969/2002) and the General theory of crime (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Therefore, in the first section, attention is paid to these and other selected criminological theories; the other theories are mainly the strain theories and the cultural deviance theories. In the second section, the thesis deals briefly with the socio- cultural differences and similarities between the Czech Republic and Germany. The core of the thesis is the third, analytical section, which presents the findings of statistical analysis. A conclusion is reached that the theories studied are by far less contradictory than what the authors of the social control theory and the general theory of crime claimed them to be. It rather seems that the individual theories are complementary and often lead to the same predictions. Hypotheses are confirmed that some characteristics of the pupils` relation to their school are related to delinquency: Pupils who like going to school are somewhat less delinquent than pupils who do not. Pupils who play truant are substantially...

國內外的犯罪統計都發現青少年犯罪率高峰之現象。本研究擷取一般犯罪理論(A general theory of crime; Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)與成熟代溝理論(Maturity gap theory; Moffitt, 1993)的觀點來探討青少年犯罪率高峰現象之成因。一般犯罪理論採犯罪成因一元解釋觀點，認為犯罪人皆來自社會化不良所產生之低自我控制(low self-control)特質，低自我控制者具有貪圖眼前享樂，不顧未來後果的特性；一旦遇到適當的犯罪時機就會產生犯罪行為，而青春期正是犯罪能力與動機較強之時期，故青少年犯罪率特高。Moffitt將青少年犯罪分成青少年暫時型反社會行為(Adolescence-limited antisocial behavior)與終生型反社會行為(Life-course-persistent antisocial behavior)兩種，前者源於成熟代溝(maturity gap)，指青少年在青春期生理成熟時產生之成人角色需求，受到法律或親長之限制而引發叛逆犯罪；後者則源於較先天性的神經心理因素。本研究即以「低自我控制」與「成熟問題」兩觀點來探索青少年犯罪率高峰現象的成因。本研究抽取國、高中學生共602人以及矯正機構學生共222人，比較國一到高三共六個年級的偏差行為分數，發現國二到國三是偏差行為的遽增期。階層回歸分析發現「低自我控制」先於社會化而存在，對偏差行為有很強的預測力；但是「成熟問題」的預測力與「低自我控制」相當。將受試者分成小時候即有偏差行為且持續到國中以後的「早發型」，以及直到國中以後才開始有偏差行為的「晚發型」，發現「早發型」無論在「低自我控制」或「成熟問題」，都較「晚發型」來得高分（即自我控制力較低，成熟困擾較高）；訪談二位「早發型」及二位「晚發型」的矯正機構學生，發現「早發型」之自我控制力較低，但成熟困擾與「晚發型」相當。由於青春期發展困擾普遍存在於偏差青少年，使小學階段即有偏差行為的「早發型」產生更多違犯行為，使原先沒有偏差行為的「晚發型」開始從事違犯行為，乃因而產生青少年犯罪率高峰之現象。本研究額外的發現是，親長若對於青少年之官能性成熟需求加以限制，可抑制偏差行為之發生。另外，可預期「早發型」有持續犯罪的可能性，因為除了「低自我控制」的不良特質外，該特質會與惡質環境交互作用而產生進一步的累積結果(cumulative consequences)。 / With regard to the pick-delinquency phenomenon of adolescents, there are two major theories. A General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) attribute the phenomenon to the crime committing opportunity caused by the strengthened motivation and action capacity of low self-control individuals who step into adolescence period. The Maturity-Gap Theory (Moffitt, 1993) emphasizes that the discrepancy between the newly developed needs and the limitation toward the fulfillment of these needs from social agents caused the jump of juvenile delinquency. 606 Students of general schools and 222 custodial adolescents of correction schools were asked to answer a questionnaire of which the variables related to the two theories were constructed. Using deviant behaviors as criterion variables and the measured variables as predicting variables, the regression analyses by sets of variables yield the following results：(1) instant fun seeking, impulsiveness, deviant peer association and sensual needs resulted from maturation are highly significant variables to predict deviant behaviors. Whereas, the inhibition of sensual maturation needs from adults are countering variables to prevent adolescents from doing deviant behavior. In sum, maturity is highly related to juvenile delinquency but not the way explained by the maturity-gap theory at least at Taiwan. Comparing the delinquents of " early onset (of crime)" and "late onset" with "never onset" adolescents, the deviant profiles of the former two groups are similar to each other, but with the "early onset" having higher scores on the measured undesirable variables which may result from cumulative effect of circulating interaction between the adolescent's low self-control characteristics and vicious environment. The same conclusion can be derived from the qualitative data from interviewing four delinquents of correction school.