TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Opportunities, Rational Choice, and Self-Control
JO  - Crime and delinquency
A1  - Seipel, Christian
A1  - Eifler, Stefanie
SP  - 167
EP  - 197
VL  - 56
IS  - 2
N2  - In this article, deviant action is analyzed on the basis of ideas derived from Gottfredson and Hirschi’s self-control theory. Presumedly, self-control in interaction with opportunities can explain deviant action. This assumption is elaborated using the concept of high- and low-cost situations from rational choice theory. From this point of view, the hypotheses are that self-control predicts deviant action in low-cost situations, whereas utility predicts deviant action in high-cost situations. Two test strategies are employed in an empirical examination of these hypotheses. A standardized questionnaire was presented to a sample of 494 German adults aged 18 to 80. The results of both test strategies show that the assumptions of an interaction effect between self-control and opportunities are fundamentally supported.<p />
LA  - 
SN  - 0011-1287
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0011128707312525
ID  - ref1
ER  -