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Social bond theory overview
Social bond theory overview
Social Bond Theory
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Concept and assumptions
Social or bond control theory assumes that people, especially teenagers, will have delinquent acts when they are not controlled. In other words, whenever individual’s bond to society is weak, a person is likely to commit crimes. In the social control theory, there are four elements of the bond to conventional society that influence people’s behaviors, including attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
Attachment
According to THE CAUSE OF DELINQUENCY, people who have attachment, or are sensitive to others’ opinion, are likely to have less delinquent behaviors than people who do not have. To make this assumption clearer, Durkheim (1961) says that since human is considered moral to the extent that we may have been
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Since parents are considered primary and influential factors for preventing crime and delinquency, attachment to parents can be the best protection for children from deviant behaviors. Furthermore, this theory provides a guideline for designing programs that encourage children to establish the elements of social bonds. For example, as the assumption of involvement, keeping children busy with conventional activities can help reduce the likelihood of committing delinquency. So such program as student associations, sport clubs, and extra curriculum activities, may be able to keep children away from deviant …show more content…
Also, the way Hirschi organized his work is very comprehensive. He developed his theory by comparing and contrasting through three criminological perspectives, including the cultural deviance theory by Sutherland (1939), the strain theory by Merton (1938), and his social bond theory. By doing so, he can design operational measures for a survey based on the key concepts of each theory. For example, question about attitudes toward the violation of laws are based largely on the concept of the cultural deviance theory. Consequently, by using the comparative method, Hirchis can illustrate the advantages of the social bond theory as well as the limitations of those two theories simultaneously. This approach was a new way for criminology. Lastly, the self-control theory by Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) has built on the assumption of the social control theory, trying to extend the scope for explaining delinquent behaviors among
The two theories I have decided to merge are Agnew’s General Strain Theory and Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory. I picked General Strain Theory because it does a good job at discussing some of the things that can trigger the release of a person’s negative emotions which in turn may lead to deviant behavior. I also decided to write about Social Bond Theory because it describes some of the factors that keep people from committing crime. Both of the theories have strengths and weaknesses individually, but when merged they help fill in each other’s gaps. (Agnew, 2011; Hirschi, 2011) +1 (888) 295-7904
Booth, J., Farrell, A., & Varano, S. (2008). Social control, serious delinquency, and risky behavior: A gendered analysis. Crime & Delinquency, 54(3), 423-456.
Wiatrowski, M.D., Griswold, D.B., & Roberts, M.K. (1981). Social control theory and delinquency. American Sociological Review, 46(5), 525-541.
According to Travis Hirschi, by establishing and forming strong social bonds, the likelihood of one committing a criminal act is slim to none. Hirschi’s theory of Social Control and Social Bond focuses on what contributes to the prevention of a criminal act rather than what causes someone to engage in a criminal act. Hirschi’s Social Control Theory of Social Bond contains four elements which contribute to social bond. These four elements include attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. On the other hand, the Bond Gone Wrong Theory begs to differ. Focusing on what causes an individual to commit a criminal act rather than what prevents one from committing one, the Bond Gone Wrong Theory suggests that social bond can contribute to criminal acts. The Bond Gone Wrong Theory states that a social bond such as attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief can contribute to criminality. Moreover, it suggests that people commit crime as a result of three defining reasons. These three defining reasons include victim-retaliation, protection, and social control.
With most crimes there are multiple theories behind why a person might have committed a crime. In the case of Jeffery Dahmer the Social Control Theory is just one theory that explains why he committed such a horrifying act. The Social Control Theory states that everyone has the potential to become a criminal, but most people are controlled by their bonds to society (Siegel, 2008). The Theory suggests that a crime usually occurs when the bind people have with society is weakened or broken.
In a book she wrote with Randall G. Shelden, Chesney-Lind and Shelden (2004) review the leading theories of criminology – basically the same theories presented in chapters six through nine in this book –and find them all wanting in terms of explaining the delinquency of girls. Chesney-Lind and Shelden state that virtually every sociological theory of delinquency causation was formulated by “ using the data on the delinquency of boys” (Chesney-Lind and Shelden, 2004, p. 106). Just one of several examples in their book has to do with control theory. They point out that Hirschi tested his control theory by doing a self-report survey of about 4,000 junior and senior high school boys. As these authors note, it is ironic that research concludes
In this paper I will be discussing two theories that my classmates and myself have learned about during this semester. The main objective is to explain, compare and contrast the theories using the information that we have learned inside of our text books. The two theories that I have chosen to use are the social bonding theory and the self-control theory. I chose these theories because these were the two that I was most interested in during my time of study.
Some of the explanations of delinquency insinuates that education, politics, social factors, family issues among others are the main causes of delinquency (Rutter, 2013).Just as these were some of the factors in “There Are No Children Here”. In addition, criminal investigators formulated several theories which explain causes of delinquency. Among them are social factors which are explained through several theories which include Social Reaction Theory also referred to as Labeling theory and Power control
Lack of moral beliefs leads to criminal behavior, which directly affects the level of commitment or attachment an individual, may have built throughout his/her life. While the weakening and the failure to make these connections may be an initial cause of crime, delinquency ultimately becomes its own secondary cause strictly
This theory is also known as social bond theory because it elaborates that instead of some natural inclinations toward crime, the individuals are deter from committing criminal activities due to strong social bonds. However, if the social bond of an individual is weak, the probability of involvement in a crime of increases. It is analysed from the research study of Warkentin and Willison (2009) that as per this theory individuals have natural tendency towards committing crimes if there are no social bonds. Moreover, it is also noticed that social bonds have positive influence on the reduction of criminal behaviour. This means that criminal activities within organisation can be controlled by emphasising on social bonds. The inhibitors of unwanted behaviour are divided into four types, which include belief, commitment, attachment, and
Krohn, M., & Massey, J. (1980). Social control and delinquent behavior: an examination of the elements of the social bond. The Socialogical Quarterly, 21(4), 529-544.
Therefore, if the individual role amongst his conventional group and his institutional group is failure, then he or she will participate in crime and commit to what is expected of him, through these groups, once strain causes bonds to weaken a youth is free to engage in delinquency.
Social Control Theory presumes that people will naturally commit crime if there were left to their own devices (i.e. no laws in society) and people do not commit crimes because of certain controlling forces, such as social bonds that hold individuals back partaking on their anti social behavior (Bell, 2011). Examples of controlling forces are family, school, peers, and the law. Young people who are t... ... middle of paper ... ... nd delinquent are more likely to partake in committing criminal behavior (Shaefer and Haaland, 2011, p.155-156).
This “circle” may include family and friends. Over the years, the constituents of a typical household have evolved. Extended families are increasing and the probabilities of a child growing up with one or no parent are more likely to happen now than they did years ago. Studies have found that families with both parents involved in a child’s life are less likely to have delinquent juveniles than families with one or no parent as long as the parents displayed healthy communication and lifestyles among themselves and their children. Furthermore, extended families seem to have a healthier lifestyle than that of nuclear families. The main point focuses on the idea that the happier and healthier a family is, the less likely the children will grow to commit offenses. Bad parenting falls under this idea. Parents who abuse, neglect, and communicate poorly with their children will more likely raise a child who will be involved in criminal acts. Household abuse also tends to work in a cycle. If a child is abused then he or she will more likely be at risk of abusing his or her future children. Studies also show that parents who are involved in criminal offenses are more likely to have juvenile delinquents because children learn from their parents. Thus, abuse and delinquent behavior correspond with each other. Additionally, if the child has a delinquent sibling, that also
Agnew, R. (1985). Social Control Theory and Delinquency: A Longitudinal Test. Criminology Volume 23 , 47-59.