Testing a Model of Collective Self-Control: Maco-Level Correlates of Serious Traffic Crashes Involving Low-Self-Control

• In Event: Institutional Impacts on Crime and Deviance

Abstract

A recent criticism of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime is that it is “perhaps too individualistically oriented”, and that self-control can be theorized and empirically examined at the community or contextual level. To date, only a few theoretical and empirical studies have been produced. Here we build a unique data set of cities and counties in Virginia composed of social, political, religious, and criminal justice variables to build models predicting rates of serious injuries due to traffic accidents involving low self-control, that is, crashes involving alcohol and/or the absence of seatbelt use. Hierarchical (non) linear modelling techniques are used to differentiate the effects of proximate conditions (census tract characteristics) and macro-level city/county characteristics associated with aggregate measures of self-control on rates of serious traffic injuries. Statistical analyses reveal inconsistent but some supportive findings for a theory of “collective self-control”. Findings are discussed in terms of theory, policy and directions for further research in this area.

Authors

• Randy R. Gainey, Old Dominion University

• Bryan Porter, Old Dominion University

• Bruce J. Arneklev, Florida Atlantic University