Conflict Regulation: A Theoretical Integration of Strain and Self-Control

• In Event: Exploring the Role of Self-Control in Offending

Abstract

Extant research suggests that strain can impede the development of self-control (Agnew, 2006; Kim et al., 2020). Conversely, individuals with low self-control are also more likely to experience strain throughout life (Nielsen et al., 2020; Pratt et al., 2014). These perspectives present competing hypotheses regarding causal direction. Further, there is a lack of agreement on how strain and self-control relate to one another in their impact on offending with some finding interactive effects and others finding additive effects (Boccio & Beaver, 2021). Drawing on neuroscience research suggesting that both stress experiences and self-control regulation involve similar brain mechanisms (Maier et al., 2015), we propose that stress and self-control may not be distinct constructs but different manifestations of the same underlying self-regulatory system. Using data from the Pathways to Desistance study, a second order confirmatory factor analysis is used to assess whether indicators of stressful environments, emotional reactivity, and self-control cluster together or form separate constructs. Our findings suggest that these items load together on a single latent factor with excellent model fit. Implications for future research and theoretical development will be discussed.

Authors

• Christopher Cassity, Florida State University

• Jacob Judd, Florida State University