Self-control Depletion and the General Theory of Crime

Mark Muraven1, Greg Pogarsky2, Dikla Shmueli1
1Department of Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, USA
2School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany, Albany, USA

Tóm tắt

Criminological research on self-control focuses mainly on self-control failure. Such research has not, however, investigated the consequences of exercising self-control for the individual doing so. The present study investigates this issue within the framework of both criminological self-control theory and research on self-control depletion from social psychology, which depicts self-control as akin to a “muscle” that is “depletable” by prior use [Muraven and Baumeister (2000) Psycholog Bull 126:247–259]. Results are presented from a laboratory experiment in which students have the opportunity to cheat. Both “trait self-control,” as measured by the Grasmick et al. [(1993) J Res Crime Delinq 30:5–29] self-control inventory, and “self-control depletion” independently predicted cheating. The implications of these findings are explored for criminological perspectives on self-control and offender decision-making.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

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