Deterrence Perceptions, Self-Control Ability and the Moral Filter: Conceptualizing and Testing a Model of a Subsidiary Relevance of Deterrence

Abstract

The idea of differential deterrence suggests that deterrent effects vary across individuals and settings. However, the pertinent research is poorly integrated and lacks a coherent theoretical conceptualization. This is why the present article seeks to (a) reconcile the empirical findings obtained for the most frequently investigated moderators of the magnitude of the deterrent effect, (b) introduce a novel model of a subsidiary relevance of deterrence, and (c) provide a first test of the new model. A narrative review of the previous research on differential deterrence forms the basis of theoretical efforts to build a model of subsidiary deterrent effects that is consistent with the available evidence. The proposed model synthesizes the conditioning roles of the strength of the moral filter and the level of trait self-control. In detail, it is assumed that the total strength of the moral filter governs whether controls affect behavior (because it determines whether crime is actually being pondered) and that, given a permeable moral filter, deterrence matters particularly for individuals with lower self-control ability. Following the presentation of the new model, we report the results of its first empirical examination. Analyzing a self-report survey on adolescent shoplifting activity yields supportive findings. There is evidence of a moderated moderation relationship according to which a poor capacity for self-control increases the association between the perceived risk of getting caught and the level of shoplifting delinquency mainly under conditions of a weak moral filter.