Control Theories One - Criminological Theory - Lecture Notes, Study notes of Criminology

Download Control Theories One - Criminological Theory - Lecture Notes and more Study notes Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! Control Theories Informal Social Control Assumptions about human nature • Humans are hedonistic, self-serving beings • We are “inclined” towards deviance from birth – “natural motivation” – no “positive” motivation required – “variation in motivations toward deviance” • Is this different from Differential Association/Social Learning? – Sutherland: All crime is learned, not invented If we are inclined toward deviance... • Key Question: Why aren’t most of us deviant? – Hirschi: “There is much evidence that we would be if we dared.” • Answer: Informal Social Control Are control theories “different?” • Akers – They don’t try to explain “non-crime” or conformity – Different sides of the same coin • Control Theorists – Completely different assumptions about human nature and “motivation” towards crime Ivan Nye (1958) • Identified 3 types of informal control 1. Direct Controls 2. Indirect Controls 3. Internal Controls Walter Reckless: Containment Theory Enter Travis Hirschi Social Bond Theory Social Bond Theory • Causes of Delinquency (1969) – Was an attack on other theories as much as a statement of his theory Docsity.com – Self-report data (CA high schools) – Measures from “competing theories” • This book was the first of its kind! Hirschi’s Criticisms of Past Theory 1. A “pure” control theory needs no or external “motivation” to explain crime. – Exclude “pushes and pulls” from control theory – Other theories present an “over-socialized” human 2. Internal control is too “subjective” and nearly impossible to measure. – Exclude “conscience, self-concept, or self-control” – Subsumed under “Attachment” Social Bond Theory • “Bond” indicates “Indirect Control” – Direct controls (punishment, reinforcement) less important because delinquency occurs when out of parents’ reach (adolescence). • Attachment • Commitment (Elements of the social bond • Involvement are all related to each other) • Belief Attachment • The “emotional bond” • Sensitivity towards others (especially parents) – Measured as • Identification with and emulation of parents • Concern with teacher’s opinion of oneself Commitment • The “rational bond” – One’s “stake in conformity” – Social Capital – Measures: • academic achievement • grades • test scores • educational aspirations Involvement • “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” • Involvement in conventional activity Docsity.com