Sex offending and low self-control: An extension and test of the general theory of crime

•The Low self-control presented by sex offenders is context dependent.•Low self-control is not constant throughout different stages of a sexual offence.•Low self-control is most prominent in situations where the offender is less influenced by external circumstances.•Future studies should examine the impact of situational circumstances on low self-control.

PurposeThe research reported in this article tests the General Theory of Crime using a sample of repeat sex offenders.MethodsLogistic regression analyses were conducted on a sample of 69 repeat sex offenders interviewed while incarcerated in a Canadian penitentiary.ResultsFindings show support for the General Theory of Crime. The current analyses found low self-control to be a significant predictor of offence behaviors that correspond closely to elements of the personality trait identified in the General Theory of Crime. Sexual offenders lower in self-control exhibited behaviors during various stages of the sexual offence that were impulsive, risky, insensitive, short-sighted, physical, and aggressive, all of which correspond to the theoretically defined personality trait of low self-control.ConclusionsAs a point of theoretical extension, we propose that future studies consider self-control in a situational manner. Moreover, the study questions the relative stability of low self-control during the entire criminal event.