According to the text, what causes low self-control / impulsivity? Do you agree or disagree with the authors? Why or why not?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Gottfredson and Hirschi trace the root cause of poor self-control to inadequate childrearing practices that begin soon after birth and can influence neural development.
• Once experiences are ingrained the brain establishes a pattern of electrochemical activation that remains for life.
• Parents who refuse or are unable to monitor a child's behavior, to recognize deviant behavior when it occurs, and to punish that behavior will produce children who lack self-control.
• Children who are not attached to their parents, who are poorly supervised, and whose parents are delinquent or deviant themselves are the most likely to develop poor self-control.
• The poor parenting produces low-self control children model may be inter-generational: parents whom themselves manifest low-self control are the ones most likely to use damaging and inappropriate supervision and punishment mechanisms, e.g. corporal punishment; inappropriate discipline modes that has been linked to lack of self-control in adolescence.
• These impulsive kids grow up to become poor parents, who use improper discipline, and produce another generation of impulsive kids.
• Student views will vary.