In 2005, Agnew introduced a new integrated theory, which he labels a general theory of crime and delinquency. He proposes that delinquency is more likely to occur when constraints against delinquency are low and motivations for delinquency are high. In addition, he argues that constraints and motivations are influenced by variables in five life domains. Capitalizing on longitudinal data of Paternoster’s Youths and Deterrence: Columbia, South Carolina, 1979-1981, a structural equation model is developed to test Agnew’s theory. Data limitations preclude a full test of the theory, but the results support the core proposition of the theory: Life domains increase delinquency by reducing constraints against delinquency and by increasing motivations for delinquency. Other propositions of Agnew’s theory garner mixed results.
AgnewR. (1993). Why do they do it? An examination of the intervening mechanisms between “social control” variables and delinquency. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 30, 245-266.
2.
AgnewR. (1995). Testing the leading crime theories: An alternative strategy focusing on motivational processes. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 32, 363-398.
3.
AgnewR. (2005). Why do criminals offend? A general theory of crime and delinquency. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.
4.
AgnewR. (2006). Pressured into crime: An overview of general strain theory (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.
5.
AkersR. (2001). Social learning theory. In PaternosterR.BackmanR. (Eds.), Explaining criminals and crime (pp. 192-210). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company.
6.
BaoW. N.HassA.PiY. (2007). Life strain, coping, and delinquency in the People’s Republic of China: An empirical test of general strain theory from a matching perspective in social support. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 51, 9-24. doi:10.1177/0306624X06294428
7.
BeanR. A.BarberB. K.CraneD. R. (2006). Parental support, behavioral control and psychological control among African American Youth: The relationship to academic grades, delinquency, and depression. Journal of Family Issues, 27, 1335-1355. doi:10.1177/0192513X06289649
8.
BernardT. J.SnipesJ. B. (1996). Theoretical integration of theory. In TonryM. (Ed.), Crime and justice: A review of research (Vol. 20, pp. 301-348). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
9.
CaoL. (2004). Major criminological theories: Concepts and measurement. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
10.
CaoL.CaoJ.ZhaoJ. (2004). Family, welfare and delinquency. Journal of Criminal Justice, 32, 565-576.
11.
CohenA. K. (1955). Delinquent boys: The culture of the gang. New York, NY: The Free Press.
12.
CostelloB. (2010). Peer influence toward conformity. Journal of Crime and Justice, 33, 97-116.
13.
De KempR. A.ScholteR. H.OverbeekG.EngelsR. C. (2006). The role of parents and best friends. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33, 488-510. doi:10.1177/0022427806291272
14.
GottfredsonM. R.HirschiT. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
15.
HennessyM. (1985). Path analysis using LISREL: Comparing income attainment of White and Black men. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 21, 51-63.
16.
HirschiT. (2002). Causes of delinquency (2nd ed.). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. (Original work published 1969)
17.
HoffmannJ. P.XuJ. (2002). School activities, community service and delinquency. Crime & Delinquency, 48, 568-591. doi:10.1177/001112802237130
18.
JoreskogK. G.SorbomD. (1993). LISREL 8: Structural equation modeling with the SIMPLIS command language. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
19.
KubrinC. E.StuckyT. D.KrohnM. D. (2009). Researching theories of crime and deviance. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
20.
MoffittT. E. (1993). “Life-course-persistent” and “adolescence-limited” antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review, 100, 674-701.
21.
PaternosterR. (2001). Youths and deterrence: Columbia, South Carolina, 1979-1981. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research. (ICPSR 8255)
22.
RebellonC. J. (2006). Do adolescents engage in delinquency to attract the social attention of Peers? An extension and longitudinal test of the social reinforcement hypothesis. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 43, 387-411. doi:10.1177/0022427806291259
23.
RomanC. G. (2004). Schools, neighborhoods, and violence: Crime within the daily routines of youth. Lanham, MD: Lexington:
24.
SampsonR. J.LaubJ. H. (1993). Crime in the making: Pathways and turning points through life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
25.
SpragueJ.HillM. W.StieberS.SimonsenB.NishiokaV.WagnerL. (2001). Exploring the relationship between school discipline referrals, and delinquency. Psychology in the Schools, 38, 197-206.
26.
TittleC. R. (1995). Control balance: Toward a general theory of deviance. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
27.
UnneverJ. D.ColvinM.CullenF. T. (2004). Crime and coercion: A test of core theoretical propositions. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 41, 244-268. doi:10.1177/0022427803257251
28.
VitulanoM. L.FiteP. J.RathertJ. L. (2010). Delinquent peer influence on childhood delinquency: The moderating effect of impulsivity. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32, 315-322. doi:10.1007/s10862-009-9160-2
29.
VoldG. B.BernardT. J.SnipesJ. B. (2010). Theoretical criminology (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
30.
WrightJ. P.CullenF. T. (2001). Parental efficacy and delinquency behavior: Do control and support matter?Criminology, 39, 677-706.
31.
ZhangY.CaoL.VaughnM. S. (2009). Social support and corruption: Structural determinants of corruption in the world. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 42, 204-217.
