Parents and Peers as Restrictors of Opportunities: A Test of the General Theory of Crime

According to the General Theory of Crime, lower self-control individuals with sufficient opportunities are most likely to engage in crime or analogous acts. This study tested three hypotheses drawn from the General Theory of Crime. Specifically, this study tested the low selfcontrol to rule-breaking behavior association, self-selection and tested restricted or enhanced opportunities as moderators of the low self-control and rule-breaking link. Early adolescents reported their self-control, unsupervised time, parental solicitation, rules, affiliation with antisocial peers and rule-breaking behavior. Parents reported their perceptions of adolescents' rule-breaking. Lower self-control was associated with more adolescent- but not parent-reported rule-breaking. Lower self-control was linked to more rule-breaking behavior indirectly through unsupervised time, parental solicitation and antisocial peers. Lower self-control was more strongly associated with rule-breaking at higher, as compared to lower, levels of opportunities. Results clarify and extend understanding of the role of restricted or enhanced opportunities in the General Theory of Crime.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2011

Author dc:creator

• Kuhn, Emily

Contributors dc:contributor

• Laird, Robert
• Frick, Paul
• Scaramella, Laura

• General Theory of Crime
• Low self-control
• rule-breaking behavior
• opportunities
• parent
• peer
• adolescent

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1323

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-2307