The elements of self-control determine a person’s ability to resist and avoid crime in any context and kind of temptation. The absence of self-control shows the characteristics that essentially determine a crime in particular circumstances. This classification was created by Gottfredson and Hirshi to explain the mechanisms and reasons for involving a person in crime (Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, 2018). Thus, the main characteristics of self-control are summed up in such traits as impulsiveness, lack of planning, and lack of ability to control one’s desire.
However, in a more expanded form, the elements of self-control are revealed in six different manifestations. First, crime brings short-term satisfaction due to monetary reward, excitement, or a sense of superiority. Second, people who commit crimes also derive similar short-term pleasure from the offense as well as from other harmful behaviors such as smoking, drug use, or gambling. Third, this behavior is also unplanned and uncontrollable entirely by a person’s rationality. Besides, crimes are the result of an incentive or opportunity to commit a violation. Lack of planning and lightheadedness are also reflected in failures in social areas such as education, building a career, or family. A person who can avoid these elements, plan and control their actions and desires has self-control. The lack of such skill and the fact that it has varying degrees of its manifestation is called by Gottfredson and Hirshi the problem of self-control (Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, 2018). At the same time, these characteristics do not have separate constructs, but act as an aggregate, demonstrating a tendency to crime. Therefore, such features of self-control are universal for every person but can be manifested in different degrees and under different circumstances.
Reference
Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F.T., & Ball. R. A. (2018). Criminological theory: Context and consequences (7th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications