The utility of joint use of the Low Self-Control Scale and the Brief Self-Control Scale in explaining adolescent deviance

Abstract

According to the general theory of crime, low self-control is the main cause of deviance. How to assess self-control is crucial because examination of the general theory of crime and assessment of adolescent risk of committing deviance relies on self-control measures. This study aims to examine whether two well-known cognitive scales of self-control, namely Grasmick et al.’s Low Self-Control Scale (LSCS) and Tangney et al.’s Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS), explain unique, shared, and addictive variance in deviance in a sample of Czech adolescents (N = 631). The results support that the two scales, when operated as total scores, explained both unique and shared variance in deviance and that joint use of the two scales explained more variance in deviance. In addition, when the LSCS was operated as components, some components were more able than other components to explain deviance. Similarly, each component and the BSCS, when used together, explained unique, shared, and addictive variance in deviance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.