Strain, Control, and Unexplored Community Characteristics

• In Event: New Applications of General Strain Theory

Abstract

Using data from a household survey of 1435 randomly selected Russian and Ukrainian adults, we explore possible interactive relationships between individual-level characteristics, such as personal strain, self control, and perceived threat of sanctions, and some previously unexplored community-level characteristics, including group-level self control and interdependency. Our findings indicate the existence of both direct and interactive relationships between selected community properties, individual characteristics, and offending. These results also lend support to the argument for theoretical integration as a way to explain criminal behavior furthered by many criminologists in the last few decades.

Authors

• Ekaterina Botchkovar, Northeastern University

• Olena Antonaccio, University of Miami

• Lorine Hughes, University of Colorado Denver