Explanation
Self-control describes the capacity of individuals to resist immediate temptations, regulate impulses, and consider the long-term consequences of their actions. High levels of self-control are generally associated with restraint, planning, patience, and conformity to social norms.
In criminology, self-control became especially influential through the work of Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi, who argued in their General Theory of Crime that low self-control is one of the primary causes of criminal and deviant behavior.
According to this perspective, individuals with low self-control tend to display:
- impulsivity,
- risk-seeking behavior,
- short-term orientation,
- insensitivity toward others,
- and difficulties delaying gratification.
Contemporary criminological research often treats self-control as one factor among many rather than a single universal explanation of crime. Scholars increasingly examine how self-control interacts with social environments, peer groups, opportunities, morality, and situational conditions.
Theoretical Reference
Self-control is associated with control theory, the General Theory of Crime, developmental criminology, situational action theory, and behavioral psychology.