Hershey's Social Bond Theory and Control Theory

Hershey's Social Bond Theory 10/20

Overview of Control Theory

  • Control theory assumes that humans have inherent criminal motivations.

    • The central question: Why aren’t all individuals engaging in crime despite this innate tendency?

    • Response: It's due to social bonds that mitigate these impulses.

  • Aim of control theory: Explain behavioral conformity and prevention of criminal acts.

Social Bond Theory Elements

  • Social Bonds are seen as the primary factor preventing criminal behavior.

    • Weakened social connections lead individuals to rely on self-interest and disregard societal rules.

  • Individuals isolated from society show selfish behavior, engaged in crime despite its potential harms to others.

Key Components of Social Bonding

  1. Attachment

    • Refers to emotional bonds with significant others (e.g., parents).

    • Strong attachments deter criminal behavior because of the expectations that the attachment figures have for them not to engage in crime.

  2. Commitment

    • Involves investment in conventional behavior such as education and employment.

    • Engagement in crime risks these investments and thus diminishes likelihood of criminal behavior.

  3. Involvement

    • Participation in conventional societal activities acts as a buffer against crime.

  4. Belief

    • Refers to adherence to societal norms and laws.

    • Individuals who believe in the moral validity of these norms are less likely to engage in criminal acts.

The Role of Parenting in Socialization

  • Parents as the primary facilitators of socialization; effective parenting reduces the chances of criminal behavior.

  • Effective Parenting:

    • Rules: Establish clear expectations and boundaries.

    • Monitoring: Supervise and track children’s behavior to ensure adherence to expectations.

    • Sanctioning: Apply appropriate consequences for rule violations. Severity of punishment should match the seriousness of the offense.

    • Consistency: Rules must be enforced uniformly across instances.

Transition to Self-Control Theory

  • Hershey's evolution in theory moves from social bonds being external to a focus on self-control as an internal factor.

  • Self-control theory assumes:

    • If left unchecked, individuals will pursue criminal acts.

    • Conversely, effective socialization can build self-control, reducing the likelihood of criminal behavior.

Characteristics of Low Self-Control

  • Impulsivity: Acts without consideration of long-term consequences.

  • Short-term focus: Concentrates solely on immediate gratification.

  • Insensitivity: Indifferent to the impact of actions on others.

  • Risk-taking: Engaging in high-risk activities, including crimes.

Controversies in Control Theory

  • Early Establishment of Self-Control:

    • Lower self-control typically predicted by age eight, leading to lifelong criminal behavior.

    • Controversy arises when issues of self-control are considered immutable post this age.

  • Measurement Issues:

    • Self-control is difficult to quantify and assess over time.

  • Short-Term vs. Long-Term Crimes:

    • Critics argue that some crimes require skill and are not spontaneous, contradicting self-control assumptions.

Insights into Developmental Theory

Dual Taxonomy of Criminal Offenders

  • Divides offenders into two distinct groups:

    1. Life Course Persistent (LCP)

    • Begin offending at a young age, continue throughout life.

    • Responsible for a major portion of serious crimes.

    1. Adolescents Limited (AL)

    • Engage in crime primarily during adolescence, with less persistence post-adolescence.

  • The trajectory for LCP offenders remains stable and persistent, indicating a deep-rooted connection with early life circumstances.

Conclusion

  • Control theories highlight the importance of social bonds and parenting in crime prevention.

  • Self-control theories suggest that a personal internal mechanism also plays a critical role in determining criminal behavior.

  • The dual taxonomy offers insight into the different paths offenders take, influenced by early socialization processes.