Low Self-Control Among South Korean Adolescents: A Test of Gottfredson and Hirschi's Generality Hypothesis

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2016 Aug;60(10):1185-208. doi: 10.1177/0306624X15574683. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Abstract

Theoretical propositions and empirical tests of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory continue to permeate the criminological literature. Nevertheless, the vast majority of studies have been conducted in North America and some European countries. Only a handful of empirical works have been conducted in East Asia. To further test the generality assertion of Gottfredson and Hirschi, the current study examines low self-control's efficacy in predicting the involvement of South Korean adolescents in typical delinquency, drinking, smoking, Internet addiction, and smartphone addiction. The presented findings largely support the generality hypothesis, although the theorists' assertion seems to be somewhat overstated.

Keywords: Gottfredson and Hirschi; Internet addiction; low self-control; smartphone addiction.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Behavior, Addictive / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Juvenile Delinquency / psychology
  • Male
  • Psychological Theory*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Self-Control / psychology*