Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Although Gottredson and Hirschi (1990) did not explicitly define self-control, their discussion and the many tests of self-control theory have contributed to a conceptualization that emphasizes impulsivity and minimal planning. Using data from multiple observations of sex-offender therapy groups, this paper adds to this conceptualization by identifying dimensions of self-control that have been ignored, such as compulsivity, and argues that low self-control can involve considerable planning. This reconceptualization of self-control is consistent with others’ conceptualizations of the concept and promises to increase the predictive accuracy of self-control theory.