Acknowledgment of Country

• The University of Queensland (UQ) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land and their custodianship.
• Respect is paid to their Ancestors and descendants with ongoing cultural and spiritual connections.
• Recognition of their contributions to both Australian and global society.

Overview of CRIM1000: Introduction to Criminology

• Instructor: Associate Professor Suzanna Fay, School of Social Science.
• Focus for Week 7: Parents and schools' influence on behavior.

Control Theories

• Control theories explore mechanisms that prevent criminal behavior through social and psychological controls.
• These theories investigate factors that deter individuals from engaging in crime rather than explaining why crime occurs.
• The assumption is that all individuals have the potential to be delinquent or criminal.
• Emphasis is placed on institutional constraints (e.g., parental influence, peer relationships, educational systems) and psychological constraints (e.g., levels of self-control).

Importance of Informal Social Control

• Informal social control is the most effective behavior regulation mechanism.
• It involves internalized values, norms, and morals that guide behavior away from crime.
• Factors Combined:
  • Pull towards crime or push away based on individual internalization of these social norms.

Social Disorganization Theory Recap

• This theory links weak social control to crime due to:
  • Weak community structures.
  • Factors like poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential instability.
• Micro Causes: Individual social bonding and self-control.
• Macro Causes: Disorganization within communities, low collective efficacy, and limited social capital.

Social Bonding Theory

• Proposed by Travis Hirschi in 1969.
• Theory posits that delinquency arises from the lack of bonding to conventional social institutions.
• Key Elements of Social Bonding:
  1. Attachment: Connections to family, friends, and community.
  2. Commitment: Investments in activities leading to future success (e.g., education, career).
  3. Involvement: Engagement in conventional activities, thereby limiting time for crime.
  4. Belief: Upholding values that inhibit criminal behavior.

Attachment in Social Bonding

• Attachment reflects how much individuals care about social relationships and the opinions of others.
• Lack of attachment can lead to a lack of respect for authority and increased likelihood of delinquency.

Commitment in Social Bonding

• The time and energy committed to conventional activities deter engagement in criminal behavior.
• Consistent with Toby’s concept of stakes in conformity, where invested interests deter crime.

Involvement in Conventional Activities

• Greater time spent on positive activities reduces opportunities for criminal behavior.
• Example activities include studying, participating in clubs, and community engagements.

Belief in Social Bonding

• Values and morals that an individual adopts socially inhibit criminality.
• These bonds and beliefs are cultivated through relationships with parents, friends, mentors, and community figures.

Testing the Social Bonding Theory

• Hirschi's research concludes:
  • Strong parental attachment reduces likelihood of criminal behavior.
  • Commitment to conventional behaviors decreases criminal involvement.
  • Belief in societal and religious values mitigates delinquency.

Criticisms of Social Control Theory

• Relationships with delinquent peers can counteract the benefits of social bonds.
• Not every element of social bonding is equally predictive of conformity (e.g., involvement is weaker).
• Direction of causal effects remains debatable (does crime diminish bonds?).
• The theory primarily addresses minor offenses, lacking a life course perspective.

Overview of Self-Control Theory

• Proposed by Gottfredson and Hirschi, suggesting crime stems from low self-control.
• Low Self-Control + Criminal Opportunity = High incidence of crime.
• Offenders typically show:
  • Impulsiveness, insensitivity, and risk-seeking behaviors.
  • A preference for immediate gratification over long-term goals.

Characteristics of Offenders

• Crimes generally tailored for immediate gratification with few benefits beyond the act itself.
• White-collar crime viewed differently as it involves advanced planning and different motivations.

Investigating Low Self-Control

• Low self-control associates with not only delinquency but risky behaviors, including substance use and sexual behavior.
• Socialization aspects of self-control are typically established by age 8.

Origins of Low Self-Control

• Influences include genetic factors and ineffective parenting.
• Effective parenting teaches children to delay gratification and appreciate the impact of their actions.
• The looseness of parental control during adolescence increases the likelihood of criminal behavior.

Evidence Supporting Self-Control Theory

• Prior behavior is a strong predictor of future actions.
• Self and parent surveys indicate impulsivity correlates significantly with crime.

Critique of Self-Control Theory

• Fails to address changing behaviors over time or life events (e.g., marriage, jobs).
• Lacks a thorough explanation for differences in crime trends across genders or races.
• Does not account for crimes requiring significant planning.

Conclusion on Criminal Behavior

• The analysis suggests Matthew Milat's criminal path is tied to the absence of bonds with conventional norms.
• The following week focuses on the impact of public labeling, specifically looking at Ivan Milat's influence on his nephew's behavior.