Michael R. Gottfredson

Michael R. Gottfredson is an American criminologist best known for co-developing the General Theory of Crime with Travis Hirschi. He has held academic and administrative positions at institutions such as the University of Arizona and the University of California, Irvine, where he served as Chancellor. Gottfredson’s work has focused on the causes of criminal behavior, the role of self-control, and the empirical testing of criminological theory.

Gottfredson’s most influential contribution is the Self-Control Theory, formulated with Travis Hirschi in A General Theory of Crime (1990). The theory argues that all crime, as well as analogous behaviors (e.g., drug use, risky sex, accidents), can be explained by one underlying factor: low self-control. Developed during early childhood due to inadequate parenting, this trait leads individuals to seek immediate gratification without considering long-term consequences. The theory rejects the need for crime-specific explanations and emphasizes the stability of self-control over the life course. While widely debated, it remains one of the most cited and empirically tested theories in modern criminology.

Interview

This video interview was conducted as part of the Oral History of Criminology Project. In this conversation, Michael R. Gottfredson discusses the origins of the General Theory of Crime, his long-standing collaboration with Travis Hirschi, and the theoretical and empirical foundations of self-control theory.