Theoretical Chap 6 (Social Bonds + Self Control)

Control theories are in direct opposition to what theory?

Social Learning Theory (Akers)

Control theories assert what?

that Conformity, not Deviance or crime is what needs explanation. (Why don’t we commit crime?)

Contrary to other theories, control theories believe that all individuals have what?

a natural motivation towards deviance. It is the social bonds in society that prevent us from committing crime

First Control Theorist

Reiss (developed personal and social controls)

Theorist who expanded Reiss and developed the sources of control that prevent delinquency

Nye, those three sources are direct, indirect, and internal

Nye placed emphasis on what?

internal controls, (basically superego repackaged) thoughts in your head like “hey that’s wrong, I wont do that”

Which theory is the most tested and studied

Social Control Theory

Most notable social control theorist and what is the name of his book which wrote about the theory?

Hirschi, Causes of Delinquency (1969)

Hirschi was instrumental in pushing for what type of degree in colleges?

Bachelors degrees in criminology

According to Hirschi, delinquency results when what?

one or more of an individual’s four bonds are weak or broken

In hirschi’s theory, where do the internalizations of norms, conscience or superego fit in?

They are all included in attachment, which is one of the four bonds that Hirschi talks about.

Hirschi believes that it ____ matter who one is _____ to 

it doesn’t matter who one is attached to

Social learning theory believed that it ____ matter who one is ____ to

Does matter who one is attached to

According to Hirschi, we honor those we admire not by imitation but by,

adherence to conventional standards

Four social bonds in hirschi’s social bonds theory, ACIB

Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, Belief

Define Attachment

how close are we to our personal relationships, mostly with family, friends or peers

Define Commitment

how much is at stake, or how much we have to lose (education, or job). “I can’t go and rob that store tonight because I work on my essay all night.”

Define Involvement

How much time we spend in conventional activities like school, sports, clubs, work, raising a family. (if you have a lot of these, you’re simply too busy to commit crime)

Define Belief

How much you agree with societal rules and laws (not rationalizations)

Examples of attachment

parental supervision, communication and relationships, attitudes toward teachers and school, closeness to identification with and respect for friends

Examples of belief

respect for the law, belief that laws should be obeyed, importance of education and hardwork

How many times was Hirschi’s social bonds theory tested?

it was tested twice

Where did Hirschi’s test’s get their data from?

Juvenile records from Costa county and Alameda county

Hirschi’s original test supported all social bonds except one, what was that one?

Involvement, so he was ¾ right

Surprisingly, Hirschi’s original test found that what had the strongest relation to delinquency?

Peers, or your friends, not the four social bonds he talked about

What is the validity of social bonds theory?

It has weak validity because there is a weak relationship between social bonds and delinqunecy

Define Self Control Theory

Low Self control is the reason why people commit crime. Self control causes the Propensity toward crime

What is the source of low Self control?

ineffective parenting.

what age does self control stop being able to be developed?

Age 8, after this age it is stable and it can’t be changed

Hirschi and Gottfredson doesn’t believe that  we are born with a criminal gene but that we

are all born capable of committing crime

In what book did Hirschi and Gottfredson develop their theory of self control?

A General Theory of Crime (1990)

What are analogous behaviors in self control theory?

They are behaviors that are similar to crime like drinking, smoking, fighting, prostitution, gambling). They can be measured to determine if a person has low self control

Policy Implications for Self Control Theory

Early intervention programs, Parenting programs, headstart

Why is self control theory called the GENERAL theory of crime?

it is called a general Theory, because it says that self control can explain all types of crimes, in any situation.