Answer:
b. independent variable
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given statement, the independent variable is "youth with low self-control" because it is the variable that is being manipulated or selected for in the study. The dependent variable is "criminal behavior" because it is the variable that is being measured to determine if it changes as a result of the independent variable.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
b. independent variable
The statement does not refer to a constant variable, and while it does indicate a direction of association (positive), that is not the same as the variable itself.