Testing the Generality of Low Self-Control Through Legal and Illegal Behaviors

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Alcohol has been posited to be the most commonly used drug among college students. Similarly, marijuana use is a regular occurrence at the collegiate level, but to a lesser extent than alcohol. Gottfredson and Hirschi’s low self-control theory has been largely overlooked when attempting to explain these behaviors in solely underage students – especially when trying to discover gender differences. Using a sample of 233 undergraduate students from a Western Pennsylvania university, alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana use, and arguments are predicted from low self-control to test legal and illegal behaviors focused on substance use, substance abuse, and asocial behaviors. Through 16 regression models and further analyses, results suggest that low self-control theory continues to be a strong correlate of crime and deviance. However, low self-control’s predictive ability is contingent on gender. Implications are offered with more research on solely underage college students needed.

Author

• Matthew Kijowski, University at Albany-SUNY