Byongook Moon

A Comprehensive Test of General Strain Theory Key Strains, Situational- and Trait-Based Negative Emotions, Conditioning Factors, and Delinquency

Using longitudinal data on South Korean youth, the authors addressed limitations of previous tests of general strain theory (GST), focusing on the relationships among key strains, situational- and trait-based negative emotions, conditioning factors, and delinquency. Eight types of strain previously shown most likely to result in delinquency, including delinquency in the South Korean context, were measured. To better understand how trait- and situational-based negative emotions mediate the connection of strains to delinquency, trait and situational measures were used for anger and depression, emotions commonly expected to promote delinquency. Overall, the findings support GSTs key propositions. Most of the eight strains and some interaction terms between strains and conditioning variables had significant effects on various types of delinquency. Furthermore, situational-based negative emotions operated differently than trait-based negative emotions in mediating the relationship between strain and delinquency. These findings raise questions about the assumption that trait-based negative emotions accurately represent situational-based negative emotions in response to strains.

Causes of School Bullying: Empirical Test of a General Theory of Crime, Differential Association Theory, and General Strain Theory

A growing number of studies indicate the ubiquity of school bullying: It is a global concern, regardless of cultural differences. Little previous research has examined whether leading criminological theories can explain bullying, despite the commonality between bullying and delinquency. The current investigation uses longitudinal data on 655 Korean youth, in three schools, to examine the applicability of leading criminological theories (general theory of crime, differential association theory, and general strain theory) in explaining school bullying. Overall, our findings indicate limited support for the generality of these three leading criminological theories in explaining the etiology of bullying. However, the findings show the significant effects of school-generated strains (teachers’ physical and emotional punishment and examination related strain) on bullying. Directions for future research and policy implications of these findings are discussed.

General Strain Theory and School Bullying: An Empirical Test in South Korea

Despite recognition of bullying as a serious school and social problem with negative effects on students’ well-being and safety, and the overlap between aggressive bullying acts and delinquent behavior, few empirical studies test the applicability of criminological theories to explaining bullying. This limitation in research is especially evident in studies of non-Western countries. Using longitudinal data on 2,817 South Korean youth, the current study attempts to fill the gaps by examining whether general strain theory can explain school bullying. As the theory suggests, youth who experience victimization by peers and conflict with parents are more likely to engage in bullying. However, there is limited evidence of the expected interaction effects between strains and conditioning factors. Inconsistent with general strain theory, parental attachment and positive relationships with teachers do not condition the effects of strains, and anger is not a mediating variable. Implications for interventions and for future research are discussed.

School Bullying, Low Self-Control, and Opportunity

The theory of low self-control has been shown to be a valid predictor of a wide variety of criminal and deviant behaviors. However, a limited number of studies were conducted to understand the relationship between low self-control and bullying and the effects of opportunity factors (i.e., parental supervision, association with other bullies, negative school environment, and disciplinary measures used by teachers) on bullying in the context of low self-control theory. The present study, using a sample of nearly 300 youths, examined the effects of low self-control and opportunity factors on various types of bullying behaviors. Results indicated that youths with low self-control were likely to physically and psychologically bully, consistent with the theory’s prediction. When opportunity measures were introduced, they were stronger explanations of bullying than low self-control, especially association with other bullies and youth who experienced disciplinary measures by their teacher. Negative school environment was a significant predictor of psychological bullying but not for physical bullying. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

The politicization of police in South Korea: a critical review

The Korean police have been greatly affected by the political developments of the twentieth century. Political neutrality and structural autonomy of the police from the government has not been ensured at all times since the establishment of the Korean police. Instead, the police had been used as an instrument for ruling regimes to seize and maintain their political power. The Korean police, siding with the authoritative governments, emphasized politically‐oriented policing rather than citizen‐oriented policing, frequently violating constitutional and human rights in the process, all of which has contributed to the crisis the Korean police now face. To prevent the political manipulation of the police and ensure their autonomy, more structural reforms should occur.

Gender, General Theory of Crime and Computer Crime: An Empirical Test

Regarding the gender gap in computer crime, studies consistently indicate that boys are more likely than girls to engage in various types of computer crime; however, few studies have examined the extent to which traditional criminology theories account for gender differences in computer crime and the applicability of these theories in explaining computer crime across gender. Using a panel of 2,751 Korean youths, the current study tests the applicability of the general theory of crime in explaining the gender gap in computer crime and assesses the theory’s utility in explaining computer crime across gender. Analyses show that self-control theory performs well in predicting illegal use of others’ resident registration number (RRN) online for both boys and girls, as predicted by the theory. However, low self-control, a dominant criminogenic factor in the theory, fails to mediate the relationship between gender and computer crime and is inadequate in explaining illegal downloading of software in both boy and girl models. Theoretical implication of the findings and the directions for future research are discussed.

An Empirical Test of Low Self-Control Theory Among Hispanic Youth

This study, using a sample of 277 Hispanic youth, examines the generality of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime in explaining the etiology of delinquency among Hispanic juveniles, especially focusing on the relationships among parental practices, low self-control, and deviant behaviors. The results indicate that low self-control is significantly related to general deviant behaviors, consistent with the theory’s prediction. However, the findings show that the theoretically informed measures of parental practices are not significantly related to child levels of self-control. Instead, individual’s perception toward levels of community disorder has a significant effect on child levels of self-control. Theoretical implications as well as limitations of the findings are discussed.

Parent and teacher practices as sources of low self-control evidence from Korea

The current research seeks to illuminate whether parenting is the predominant source of the development of self-control, or whether teachers contribute to the development of self-control among Korean youths. The findings indicate that Korean adolescents whose parents monitor and/or teachers discipline them when they engage in deviant behaviors are more likely to report higher levels of self-control. Also, the results indicate that youths with low self-control are more likely to engage in delinquency. These findings provide partial support for the generality and applicability of the theory in explaining deviance among Korean youths. Taking a broad perspective, our findings, however, may raise a serious theoretical question about Gottfredson and Hirschi’s assertion that parental socialization is the only primary source of the development of self-control.

General Strain Theory As a Basis for the Design of School Interventions

The research described in this article applies general strain theory to identify possible points of intervention for reducing delinquency of students in two middle schools. Data were collected from 296 youths, and separate negative binomial regression analyses were used to identify predictors of violent, property, and status delinquency. Emotional punishment by teachers and youths’ prior victimization are significant predictors of delinquency. Strained youths are especially likely to commit various delinquent behaviors if they associate with delinquent peers, while they are less likely to be involved in violent and property-related delinquency if they report a positive relationship with parents. The findings suggest the need for programmatic attention to youths’ criminal victimization and teachers’ use of emotional punishment as well as youths’ relations with parents and involvement with delinquent peers in the two schools studied.

Gender and General Strain Theory: A Comparison of Strains, Mediating, and Moderating Effects Explaining Three Types of Delinquency.

The present study of 659 Korean adolescents tests General Strain Theory’s (GST) utility in explaining gender differences in delinquency causation. It models the effects of key strains, negative emotions, and a composite measure of several conditioning factors separately for boys and girls and for delinquency. Consistent with the theory, males and females experience different strains and different emotions in response, and they vary in influences hypothesized to alter the connections of strains or emotions to delinquency. Strains that males experience more than females are significantly related to their violent and property delinquency, and those concentrated among females explain their status offending. For boys, family conflict influences different types of delinquency and examination-related strain predicts violent and status offending. The empirical research suggested that GST falls short in explaining boys’ and girls’ property and status offending, and in showing how a composite measure of conditioning factors act as a moderator in explaining their delinquency.