Index, Scale or Typology

Grasmick 's Low Self-Control Scale

According to the University of Oklahoma website , Dr . Grasmick has been publishing articles since 1974 and is still continuing his research on his theories on criminal deviance and its deterrents . The website indicates that he is credited with creating the Grasmick 's Low Self-Control Scale , which is used to measure self-control in criminal deviants

Grasmick 's scale is being employed in most studies and dissertations under the subject of Criminal Justice . John McMullen wrote a dissertation on the which is entitled A Test of Self-control

Theory Using General Patterns of Deviance ' He employed Grasmick 's Low Self-Control Scale in his survey instruments to derive his results for the study . The scale measures six separate aspects of self control . The scale consists of 24 impulsivity , physical activities , risk seeking , self-

centered , and temper sub-components . Respondents were asked to report whether they strongly

agree ' agree ' disagree ' or strongly disagree ' to each individual item . He described the concept of self- control in reference to Gottfredson and Hirschi 's General Theory of Crime , by stating that Individuals who possess the low self-control trait are more likely to become involved in criminal

deviant , and accidental behaviors than those who possess high levels of self-control (McMullen , 1999 ,

.6

In terms of reliability , McMullen mentions that on the basis of empirical support and extensive testing , the scale was very suitable for use in his sample age group . He also comments that : the most convincing argument for using

this scale comes from Piquero and Rosay (1998 :170 , who concluded that it appears .the scale

can be an acceptable scale in terms of tapping into the components alluded to by Gottfredson and

Hirschi (McMullen , 1999 ,

.35

References

McMullen , J .C (1999 . A Test of Self-control Theory Using General Patterns of Deviance . Virginia Polytechnic Institute

and State University

The University of Oklahoma , College of Arts and Sciences (2006 . Harold Grasmick : Honored Professor and Proud Father . Retrieved from http /casweb .ou .edu /home /news /spotlight /spotlight_hgrasmick .htm

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