Citation

Fox KA, Ward JT, Lane J. Deviant Behav. 2013; 34(12): 996-1019.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/01639625.2013.800433

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although self-control theory has been thought to be entirely consistent with the gang selection model, key theoretical predictions of the general theory imply gang selection effects for those with lower self-control and gang facilitation effects for those with higher self-control. This new hypothesis is tested among a large sample of jail inmates. Results indicate that self-control did not render the gang-violence relationship spurious for the sample as a whole. Gang membership had a significantly greater impact on violent crime among those with very high self-control, but there were still statistically significant gang facilitation effects for the other three self-control groups.