Low self-control and imprudent behavior revisited

This study assesses the effect of low self-control on traditional offending-oriented outcomes and three imprudent behaviors-"drunk dialing," public profanity, and public flatulence. The sample consists of approximately 500 undergraduate students. The results from the regression analyses show that low self-control is associated with typical offending, academic fraud, and binge drinking. More importantly, low self-control is also associated with making telephone calls while under the influence of alcohol, using offensive language in public places, and publicly expelling digestive gases. The results suggest that low self-control not only explains traditional offending-oriented outcomes, but also understudied forms of social deviance.