Evaluating the effects of birth complications on low self-control in a sample of twins.
Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory has generated an abundance of research examining the effects of low self-control on crime and analogous behaviors. Less research, however, has focused on the factors that contribute to the development of low self-control. Gottfredson and Hirschi maintain that ineffective parents are the sole cause for the emergence of low self-control. At the same time, they disregard the possibility that low self-control has a biological or genetic component. This article extends prior research and examines the effects of birth complications and parental involvement on low self-control. Using a sample of twin children, the authors find that parental involvement is only weakly and inconsistently related to low self-control. On the other hand, although most of the birth complications had no appreciable effect on low self-control, anoxia (oxygen starvation) emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of low self-control.
Division of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 210388, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0389, USA.
Kevin M
KM
Beaver
John Paul
JP
Wright
D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003417:Criminal Psychology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D012951:Socialization