Longitudinal and reciprocal relations between delay discounting and crime

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Criminology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Self-control failure is theorized as a primary cause of criminal behavior.
• Previous research links low self-control to delinquency and substance use.
• The reciprocal relationship between crime and self-control deficits requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the bi-directional relationship between self-control and crime over a three-year period.
• To examine if self-control predicts future crime and if crime predicts future self-control.
• To explore the temporal dynamics of self-control and criminal behavior in a longitudinal study.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving 526 undergraduates over three college years.
• Self-control was measured using a delay discounting task.
• Self-reported criminal behavior was collected annually.

Main Results:

• Higher rates of delay discounting (lower self-control) predicted future property crime.
• Violent crime predicted increased delay discounting (lower self-control) one year later.
• Evidence supports a bi-directional relationship between self-control and specific crime types.

Conclusions:

• Self-control and crime exhibit a reciprocal, bi-directional relationship.
• Lower self-control contributes to property crime, while violent crime can lead to diminished self-control.
• Findings highlight the complex interplay between individual traits and criminal behavior over time.