MORALITY AND SELF-CONTROL IN THE CRIMINAL DRIVER. A PARTIAL TEST OF SITUATIONAL ACTION THEORY

The aim of this study is to empirically review the factors and causal mechanism that could be behind traffic offences in Spain. For this purpose, key hypotheses of Situational Action Theory (SAT) are tested. On the one hand, this work analyses whether individual morality and self-control are causally relevant direct factors of this specific crimes. On the other hand, this study also examines the interaction of both factors in the explanation of traffic crimes. To this end, a specific questionnaire is administered on internet to a sample of potential drivers (n = 404). A series of regression models seem to confirm that both self-control and, especially, individual morality are relevant predictor of traffic offenses. Likewise, a series of specific statistics reveal that the influence of self-control is greater as individual morality decreases, being irrelevant for those who are high in morality. The results are analysed and discussed.