Self-Complexity and Crime: Extending General Strain Theory Público
Matthews, Shelley Keith (2009)
Abstract
Abstract Self-Complexity and Crime: Extending General Strain Theory By Shelley Keith Matthews General strain theorists propose that people are pressured into crime because of the various strains or negative events or conditions they experience (Agnew 2006). These strains lead to negative emotions which may be resolved through crime. Most people do not respond to strain with crime, however. Researchers have failed to find consistent support for the conditioning factors hypothesized to affect this relationship. This study introduces a previously neglected conditioning variable from the social psychology literature, self-complexity, which may help explain who is more likely to respond to strain with crime. Self-complexity refers to 1) the number of social roles or identities a person perceives him/herself occupying; and 2) the varied characteristics s/he ascribes to him/herself in each role or identity. The central argument of this study is that those who are lower in self-complexity, or those with fewer roles and more overlap among these roles, should be more susceptible to the negative emotional and behavioral effects of strain. These arguments were tested through a vignette study of undergraduates examining four types of crime/deviant outcomes. Results indicate that in the scenario resulting in assault, those who are lower in self-complexity are more likely to experience negative emotions in response to strain than those who are higher in self-complexity. In addition, those who are lower in self-complexity are more likely to intend to offend than those who are higher in self-complexity for the scenario resulting in assault. Finally, in the situation leading to drinking, those who described more overlap in their roles and identities were less vulnerable to the negative effects of stress contrary to expectations.
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION .. 1
II. SELF AND SELF-COMPLEXITY .. 8
A. What is Self-Complexity? . 8
B. Measurement of Self-Complexity . 14
C. Other Conceptualizations of the Organization of Self-Concept . 18
D. Evidence on Self-Complexity . 21
E. What's in the Self-Concept: Does Content Matter? . 26
III. GENERAL STRAIN THEORY .. 31
A. The Role of Negative Emotions . 31
B. What Types of Strain Lead to Crime? . 36
C. Why are Some People More Likely to Respond to Strains With Crime? . 38
Poor Coping Skills and Resources . 39
Low Levels of Conventional Social Support 40
Low Social Control 41
Association With Criminal Others . 42
Costs of Crime Are Low - Benefits Are High . 42
D. How Can Self-Complexity Inform General Strain Theory? . 43
Why Will Those Who are Lower in S-C be More Likely to Engage in Crime? . 44
Content of Self-Concept and Causes of Crime: Control Variables . 47
E. How Can General Strain Theory Inform the Measurement of Self-Complexity? 58
IV. METHODS . 60
A. Data Collection Method . 60
B. Sample . 62
C. Measures . 64
Self-Complexity: Operationalization and Measurement 64
Scenarios . 71
Control Variables . 86
D. Analytical Strategy . 92
V. RESULTS . 99
VI. CONCLUSION .. 252
A. Limitations . 258
B. Directions for Future Research .. 259
VII. REFERENCES . 264
VIII. APPENDICES . 274
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