Publication

Gottfredson and Hirschi have reported the concept of self-control as an individual characteristic associated with deviant behavior. The responses of 171 junior high school students (studying in grades 1–3) on a questionnaire survey were examined using mediation analysis. The results revealed that the effects on self-control and deviant behavior differ based on the parental discipline strategies the students responded to during their elementary school years. Specifically, “physical and coercive discipline” affected deviant behavior by decreasing self-control. “Inductive and assisted discipline” showed no significant association with self-control but demonstrated a weak direct negative correlation with deviant behavior. Based on these results, we discussed the usefulness of improving self-control during correctional treatment.