Multi-measure analyses of self-control: Assessing relative stability and predictive validity

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Abstract

Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) proposed relative stability postulate that an individual’s level of self-control is relatively stable after age 8 to 10. However, three decades of longitudinal research have produced mixed findings regarding this postulate. Gottfredson and Hirschi (2019) argued that the findings of instability were not reflections of actual developmental change but were merely measurement artifacts resulting from the use of attitudinal scales instead of behavioral measures. Recent studies have contradicted this opinion by finding instability even when using behavioral measures. The heart of this debate is the persistent lack of convergent validity among commonly used self-control measure in longitudinal studies. Therefore, the study aims at providing additional insight regarding the longstanding debate concerning the relative stability of self-control and examine the convergency of different measure of self-control within one sample followed over time. Using data from the 7-year Pathways to Desistance study and employing group-based trajectory modeling and conditional probability test, the study seeks to determine whether the instability of self-control is due to real developmental fluctuation or methodological artifacts.

Author

• Wenyi Wang, The University of Texas at Dallas