TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-Control and Delinquency in China
T2 - Examining the Mediating Role of Thoughtfully Reflective Decision Making
AU - Wang, Xia
AU - Gricius, Matthew
AU - Zhang, Wenrui
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology.
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Since Gottfredson and Hirschi proposed the general theory of crime, the direct link between self-control and delinquency has gained strong empirical support. The indirect link, however, remains understudied. Meanwhile, although Gottfredson and Hirschi argued that self-control theory can be applied in all cultural contexts, its generalizability needs to be tested under different circumstances. This study addressed these gaps by assessing the relationship between self-control and delinquency in China and introducing thoughtfully reflective decision making (TRDM) as the mediator of this relationship. Using self-reported data from the city of Changzhi, China, this study finds that (a) self-control is closely related to TRDM, (b) low self-control is significantly related to general and property delinquency for those with low morality, and (c) TRDM mediates the relationship between low self-control and delinquency for those with low morality. We discuss these findings and their implications for theory, research, and policy.
AB - Since Gottfredson and Hirschi proposed the general theory of crime, the direct link between self-control and delinquency has gained strong empirical support. The indirect link, however, remains understudied. Meanwhile, although Gottfredson and Hirschi argued that self-control theory can be applied in all cultural contexts, its generalizability needs to be tested under different circumstances. This study addressed these gaps by assessing the relationship between self-control and delinquency in China and introducing thoughtfully reflective decision making (TRDM) as the mediator of this relationship. Using self-reported data from the city of Changzhi, China, this study finds that (a) self-control is closely related to TRDM, (b) low self-control is significantly related to general and property delinquency for those with low morality, and (c) TRDM mediates the relationship between low self-control and delinquency for those with low morality. We discuss these findings and their implications for theory, research, and policy.
KW - China
KW - decision making
KW - delinquency
KW - self-control
KW - youth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163759472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85163759472&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/00938548231180632
DO - 10.1177/00938548231180632
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85163759472
SN - 0093-8548
VL - 50
SP - 1456
EP - 1481
JO - Criminal Justice and Behavior
JF - Criminal Justice and Behavior
IS - 10
ER -