Mei Wah Williams

Self-control Theory of Crime: is Self-control Sufficient As an Explanation of Crime? Mei Wah Williams

Self-control theory of crime has been subjected to extensive empirical investigations, and there is subtantial support for its ability to predict crime and analogous behaviours. Of major concern is its lack of explanatory power; a problem that besets most criminological theories. The study integrated self-control theory with theory of planned behaviour in order to, firstly, increase the explanatory value of self-control theory and, secondly, to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which an individual with low self-control may demonstrate increased propensity to crime. Participants used in the study were university students and prison inmates.