Analogous Behaviours
Definition
Non-criminal acts that, according to the general theory, stem from the same low self-control as crime: reckless driving, smoking, alcohol misuse, employment instability, and impulsive spending. Their co-occurrence with offending is a key prediction tested in empirical studies.
- Source theory
- General theory of crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi)
- Underlying cause
- Low self-control
- Examples
- Reckless driving, smoking, impulsive spending
- Role in the theory
- Key testable prediction
Common questions
Why do researchers test for analogous behaviours rather than only crime?+
If low self-control genuinely drives both criminal and non-criminal risky acts, offenders should also show elevated rates of these legal-but-risky behaviours. Finding that co-occurrence supports the theory's claim of a single underlying trait rather than crime-specific motives.
Does finding analogous behaviours in an offender prove the general theory correct?+
No. Co-occurrence is consistent with the theory but does not rule out alternative explanations, such as shared environmental strain or a third factor driving both crime and risky behaviour, so it is treated as supporting evidence rather than proof.
Related terms
- Attachment
- Emotional sensitivity to the opinion of significant others, particularly parents, teachers, and peers. An attached individual cares about what these others think...
- Commitment
- Investment in conventional lines of activity such as education, career, and reputation. A person with high commitment has much to lose from...
- General Theory of Crime
- The theory proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi in 1990 holding that low self-control is the single variable explaining the universal age-crime curve....
- Low Self-Control
- A stable personality trait characterised by impulsivity, insensitivity, risk-seeking, short-sightedness, and preference for non-verbal over cognitive tasks. Gottfredson and Hirschi argue it...
- Social Bond
- The set of ties that connect an individual to conventional society. In Hirschi's model, the bond has four elements: attachment, commitment, involvement,...