Sense of Control: Differential Effects on the Outcomes of Assault and Theft

Previous research has considered different ways an individual's sense of control may influence his or her propensity to commit crime, mostly by focusing on a perceived lack of control and juvenile delinquency. The current research seeks to clarify the relationship between sense of control and the criminal outcomes of theft and assault for an adult sample, using the 1992 Oklahoma City Survey. Three dimensions of sense of control are examined: General Sense of Control, Relative Sense of Control, and Autonomy. The findings reveal that the three dimensions of sense of control have differential effects for the propensity to steal and physically hurt another person. The current research is discussed within the framework of Control Balance Theory, although it does not contend to be a direct test of this theory.