| This work replicates the findings of Sampson and Laub in their re-analysis of the classic Glueck and Glueck data. However, rather than concluding that social capital factors mediate the role of structural background as was argued in Crime in the Making, the introduction of self-control measures from the original Glueck and Glueck study suggests that these individual level traits are the most important determinants of adult crime. Evidence suggests further that the ability to create and exploit social capital may be a result of such individual-level traits. These results are more consistent with the findings of Gottfredson and Hirschi's self-control theory than the life-course perspective associated with social capital models. |
Updated 05/20/2006