What is self-control theory in simple terms?

It holds that people who are weak at resisting impulses and considering long-term consequences — that is, who have low self-control — are likely to commit crime when they encounter opportunities. This capacity is thought to be built mainly through parenting in childhood.

What are the main criticisms of self-control theory?

One is that measuring low self-control by criminal behavior risks the tautology that people who offend offend. Studies have also found that self-control can change after childhood.

Self-Control Theory

👥 Sociology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 27, 2026

Self-control theory, also called the general theory of crime, is a criminological theory that locates the most important cause of crime and delinquency in low individual self-control. It was proposed by Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi in 1990. It holds that self-control is formed through parenting in childhood, largely by around ages 8 to 10, and remains relatively stable afterward. Its core claim is that people with low self-control are likely to offend when they encounter criminal opportunities.

Contents

1. Core of the theory
2. How self-control forms
3. Evidence and critiques
4. FAQ
5. References

Core of the theory

Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) defined crime as acts of force or fraud undertaken in pursuit of self-interest and argued that most crimes provide immediate gratification and require little planning or skill. People who pursue immediate benefits over long-term consequences are therefore more likely to offend. They listed the traits of low self-control as impulsivity, a preference for simple and easy tasks, risk seeking, a preference for physical over mental activity, self-centeredness and a quick temper. Hirschi had earlier proposed social control theory, which emphasized social bonds; self-control theory in effect relocated control to a stable disposition within the individual. Hirschi and Gottfredson (1983) laid the groundwork by arguing that the age–crime curve is similar across societies and periods.

How self-control forms

According to the theory, self-control is not innate but produced by childhood parenting. It develops when parents monitor their children's behavior, recognize misbehavior and correct it consistently. Once formed, differences in self-control between individuals remain relatively stable over the life course, so the theory claims to explain not only crime but analogous behaviors such as smoking, heavy drinking, accidents and unplanned spending. Following 1,000 people for 32 years, Moffitt and colleagues (2011) reported that childhood self-control predicted adult health, wealth and criminal records, demonstrating the broad importance of self-control.

Evidence and critiques

Grasmick and colleagues (1993) developed a scale for measuring self-control that was used in many later studies. Pratt and Cullen's (2000) meta-analysis found low self-control to be one of the strongest predictors of crime and deviance, and a meta-analysis by Vazsonyi and colleagues (2017) reported that the relationship appears consistently across many countries. Pratt and Cullen also found effects of social learning variables, however. Akers (1991) argued that if low self-control is measured by criminal behavior, the theory becomes tautological. Debate also continues over whether self-control really stays fixed after childhood and whether the theory underestimates later environments such as peers and schools, as well as strain.

FAQ

What is self-control theory in simple terms?: It holds that people who are weak at resisting impulses and considering long-term consequences — that is, who have low self-control — are likely to commit crime when they encounter opportunities. This capacity is thought to be built mainly through parenting in childhood.
What are the main criticisms of self-control theory?: One is that measuring low self-control by criminal behavior risks the tautology that people who offend offend. Studies have also found that self-control can change after childhood.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A General Theory of Crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. The original statement of the theory and the traits of low self-control.
Hirschi, T., & Gottfredson, M. (1983). Age and the explanation of crime. American Journal of Sociology, 89(3), 552–584. The age–crime curve argument that set up the theory.
Akers, R. L. (1991). Self-control as a general theory of crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 7(2), 201–211. The classic tautology critique of the theory.
Grasmick, H. G., Tittle, C. R., Bursik, R. J., Jr., & Arneklev, B. J. (1993). Testing the core empirical implications of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 30(1), 5–29. Introduced the widely used Grasmick self-control scale.
Pratt, T. C., & Cullen, F. T. (2000). The empirical status of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime: A meta-analysis. Criminology, 38(3), 931–964. Meta-analysis showing self-control is a robust predictor of crime.
Moffitt, T. E., Arseneault, L., Belsky, D., Dickson, N., Hancox, R. J., Harrington, H., Houts, R., Poulton, R., Roberts, B. W., Ross, S., Sears, M. R., Thomson, W. M., & Caspi, A. (2011). A gradient of childhood self-control predicts health, wealth, and public safety. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 2693–2698. Childhood self-control predicts adult health, wealth and crime.
Vazsonyi, A. T., Mikuška, J., & Kelley, E. L. (2017). It's time: A meta-analysis on the self-control-deviance link. Journal of Criminal Justice, 48, 48–63. An updated meta-analysis of the self-control–deviance link.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

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This article was last updated on October 27, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.