Since the development of the general theory of crime, self-control has been tested in a variety of manners including various sample populations and criminal outcomes. A smaller, but growing body of research compares the explanatory power of self-control between sociodemographic groups including sex and race. Although the existing body of literature on self-control is extensive, this study addresses a significant gap, that of sexual orientation. Using self-reported data from college students, this research assesses the association between self-control and criminal behavior between heterosexual and nonheterosexual groups. This research further tests the strength of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory in a previously unexplored area, as well as offers a glimpse into offending patterns based on sexual orientation. Results from multivariate regression models indicate there are no significant differences in criminal behavior between sexual orientation groups; however, self-control is not a consistent predictor between sexual orientation groups.
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