Social Control theories

Temptation

The urge or desire to do something that you know is wrong or unwise 

Social control theories

• All people are tempted to commit crime but not everyone does

• Not concerned with answering “why do some people commit crime?”

• More concerned with answering "Why do most people not offend?”

• Why do people conform?

• What keeps us under control?

• How are some people able to resist criminal temptations and others are not?

Containment theory - Walter Reckless

• Everyone experiences pushes and pulls 

• Ex: frustration, anger, resentment, isolation, alienation, low self esteem 

• Ex: peer pressure, poverty, media glorification, wanting more money/status, excitement 

• People can be “insulated”(protected)  from succumbing to criminal pushes and pulls

• #1 Inner containment: internal elements within the individual that prevent criminal behavior, ex: personal upbringing and morals, 

• If people have a strong sense of self/self-worthiness (believe that you are a good person) you are less likely to give into those temptations 

Pushes

Internal pressures that can lead to deviant or criminal behavior 

Pulls

External pressures that can lead to deviant or criminal behavior 

 Inner containment

• internal elements within the individual that prevent criminal behavior, ex: personal upbringing and morals, 

• If people have a strong sense of self/self-worthiness (believe that you are a good person) you are less likely to give into those temptations 

Outer containment

elements outside of the individual that present criminal behaviour 

Ex: formal or informal social control, getting arrested, getting charged, convictions, security cameras

Informal- being judged, isolation, exclusion, eye rolling, pointing, people talking about you, dirty looks

is inner or outer containment more important?

Inner because it is internal, your conscious so its always present 

why do people commit crimes then (related to inner and outer containment btw)

because their internal containment is weak

Travis Hirschi - social bond theory

• Deviance is natural, so why do people conform? What prevents people from violating norms?

• The answer is social bonds, they serve as social control by imposing restraints on our behaviour 

• Why do people commit crime then? 

• When their social bonds are weakened or broken

• had 4 bonds

bond #1

Attachment 

-emotional connections to others 

-more emotional connected to other we’re less likely to commit crime 

-identification with parents and peers, concerns about their opinions/judgements on what you do 

bond #2

Commitment 

-level of dedication (time, energy, effort, etc) to conventional activities or goals 

-greater investment to achieve conventional goals, you’re less likely to commit criminal acts as you lose what you have worked for (cheating on a test means being on academic probation)

bond #3

 Involvement

• Participation in conventional activities 

• When we are keeping busy in conventional activities this is going to strength the social bond 

• Increase conformity to laws and not engage in delinquency/criminal activity because you have less time to do anything else, crime 

bond #4

• Acceptance of social norms, rules and laws

• Acknowledge that societies rules are fair and that's why you follow them, respect for authority 

• Moral obligation to follow them, if yes thats a social bond

• If not then it can get you into trouble 

How does social bond theory differ from strain theory

strain theory is the assumption that everyone has the same goals and when you can’t meet those goals you achieve them thru other means 

The general theory of crime/self-control theory - Micheal Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi

Why do people not commit crime?

-they have self-control

Self control

• The ability to restrain your emotions, desires or impulses particularly in tempting circumstances 

-theory prioritizes an individual's internal disposition 

-however, crime is the result of both low self-control and the presence of an opportunity to commit a crime 

-theory is broad in scope, one cause for all types of crime 

7 characteristics of low self-control

• Impulsive: acting before thinking 

• Risk taking; activities that provide adrenaline or excitement  

• Unable to delay gratification: 

• Low tolerance for frustration, getting angry when things don’t do your way 

• Insensitive to others, making jokes that hurt other people’s feelings, cancelling plans last minute, interrupting other people, being late 

• Avoidance of difficult tasks, procrastinate 

• Lack of concern for (long-term) consequences; cheating on a test, spending all your money immediately on things you don’t need 

When is self-control established?

early in childhood between the ages of 8 -10

-after 10, your level of self-control is the same throughout your life

What determines self-control?

-socialization, we are taught self-control, a skill and is learned though parents 

-it’s not just willpower, 

-people who have better self-control are better in school, job prospects

What is low self-control the result of?

-result of poor ineffective parenting 

-lack of discipline, not doing anything about poor behaviour 

-Helicopter parenting 

-abusive parenting 

-inconsistent parenting, punish sometimes but not others 

Why do low self control predispose individuals to crime?

Impulsive- characteristic of crimes, expressive, heat of the moment 

Unable to delay gratification, characteristic of crime, provide quick benefits, short term pleasure, 

Risk-seeking characteristics of crime; crime is risky, 

Insensitive to others , characteristics of crime: crime harms others 

Low tolerance for frustration, characteristic of crime: people can commit crime out of frustration

Low tolerance of difficult tasks - characteristic of crime: easier way out, quick, fast, doesn’t require much skill or effort 

Lack of concern for long-term consequences: no one commits a crime thinking they’ll get caught

Criticisms

• Overemphasis of poor parenting, other factors like peers and genetics play a role 

• Self control is not established at 8-10, it changes throughout your life 

• It ignores social structures ignoring structural, systemic factors like poverty and environment 

• Argue that this theory doesn’t work for white collar crime