Theory Database - Theory 19: General Theory of Crime

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 19: General Theory of Crime

Number of Constructs: 14
Number of Triples: 13

Theory triples

Socialising institutions influences Self-control
Parental child-rearing practices influences Self-control
Self-control negatively influences Criminal, deviant, and risky behaviours
Impulsivity part of Self-control
Sensitivity part of Self-control
Physicality part of Self-control
Risk-taking preference part of Self-control
Time orientation (near / far-sighted) part of Self-control
Monitoring of child part of Parental child-rearing practices
Recognition of deviant behaviour part of Parental child-rearing practices
Punishment of deviant behaviour part of Parental child-rearing practices
Parent-child attachment part of Parental child-rearing practices
School type of Socialising institutions

Theory constructs and annotations

Socialising institutions [ BCIO:006001 (Social Environmental System) 19 33 41 24 39 ]
Self-control Degree to which one is able to enact intentions in the face of competing desires and impulses [ BCIO:006005 (self-regulation capability) 19 10 63 34 60 ]
Parental child-rearing practices Ways in which children are raised that are the primary cause of individual differences in self-control as opposed to instruction, training or socialisation; includes monitoring, recognition and punishment. [ BCIO:050826 (Parenting behaviour) 19 ]
Criminal, deviant, and risky behaviours Behaviour that is criminal/illegal in nature. [ BCIO:050811 (Criminal behaviour) 19 82 ]
Impulsivity Showing a relatively low level of influence of forethought or reflection in one's actions [ BCIO:050677 (Impulsive disposition) 19 ]
Sensitivity Relative level of empathy
Physicality Adventuresome and active rather than cautious and cognitive [ BCIO:006062 (promotion focused motivational orientation) 19 53 50 ]
Risk-taking preference An individual who has a pattern of unnecessarily engaging in activities or behaviours that are highly risky or dangerous. [ BCIO:006062 (promotion focused motivational orientation) 19 53 50 ]
Time orientation (near / far-sighted) Relative prioritisation of short-term benefits vs. long-term consequences [ BCIO:050790 (temporal orientation) 19 51 ]
Monitoring of child The process of watching or overseeing individuals and their behaviour. [ BCIO:050807 (Carer monitoring of child behaviour) 19 ]
Recognition of deviant behaviour Acknowledgement of deviant behaviour by supervisor, has to occur in order for supervision to have an effect on self-control [ BCIO:006147 (Evaluative belief about behaviour) 19 , MF:00000006 (Judging) 19 ]
Punishment of deviant behaviour A painful, unwanted or undesirable event or circumstance imposed as a penalty on a behaviour [ BCIO:007241 (provide negative consequence for behaviour BCT) 19 ]
Parent-child attachment [ BCIO:006074 (Social embeddedness) 19 33 ]
School [ BCIO:006001 (Social Environmental System) 19 33 41 24 39 ]

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Gottfredson, M.R. & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press.

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