Family relations, self-control, and delinquency: an empirical test of the general theory of crime

Author(s)

Ana Beatriz do Prado Schiavone

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2025-01-09

Examining board members

Marina Rezende Bazon; Juan García García; Luiz Guilherme Dacar da Silva Scorzafave

• Advisor: Marina Rezende Bazon

Abstract

The General Theory of Crime (GTC) considers self-control as a central variable in the explanation of delinquent behaviors, as individuals who present low self-control are more susceptible to momentaneous influences and temptations, taking less into account the risks of antisocial behaviors and long-term goals. According to the GTC, self-control development is intrinsically linked to familial socialization. Recent neuroscientific studies, like the Dual Systems Model (DSM), confirm a relationship between high impulsivity and sensation-seeking levels in adolescence with increased antisocial behaviors, because of a temporal gap between the maturation of socioemotional and cognitive control systems. Besides the GTC being one of the most tested and influential theories, focusing on family variables is less frequent in the majority of studies, and its application within the Brazilian sociocultural context is scarce. This study\'s main goal was testing the applicability of the GTC in explaining juvenile delinquency in Brazil, considering its relations with family aspects (through self-control), in addition to checking a possible relation between different self-control levels and differences on infractional engagement, using a person-centered approach. The research was done within the scope of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD4), a collaborative and transcultural study about victimization and delinquency in adolescence. The ISRD4 standardized protocol was followed. Data collection took place in 54 private and public schools of Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho, randomly and representatively, with a final sample of 1,909 adolescents between 13 and 17 years old (M = 15, SD = 1.2), of which 49.6% identified as feminine, 48.3% as masculine, and 2.1% as non-binary. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to check the relation between the interest variables and, also, a person-centered approach, by grouping adolescents in clusters regarding self-control levels. Family bond and parental supervision were significantly predictors of impulsivity and sensation-seeking, with family bond influencing both self-control dimensions, while parental supervision had a stronger effect on sensation-seeking, which was the only predictor of general and violent offenses. Considering cluster analysis, individuals with less self-control also showed the smallest levels of family bond and parental supervision, also reporting more offenses than the high self-control individuals. The group with more sensation-seeking reported more offenses than those with high impulsivity and high self-control, suggesting that sensation-seeking may have more influence on delinquent behaviors by placing adolescents in more criminogenic settings and away from parental monitoring. In general, the results indicate that the GTC offers a partial explanation to Brazilian adolescent involvement in offending activities. This study brings relevant contributions, from a theoretical and scientific perspective, by helping on the understanding of different rules of the self-control dimensions within delinquent conducts, also emphasizing the importance of an adequate family socialization to social and cognitive youth development. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 22/13907-3 - Family relationships, self-control and delinquency: an empirical test of the General Theory of Crime.
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz do Prado Schiavone
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master