Download Self Control Theory - Criminology - Lecture Slides and more Slides Criminal Justice in PDF only on Docsity! Control theories Nye’s theory Matza’ theory Hirschi’s theory Self-control theory Docsity.com Question for extra credit • Do you believe it is “latent trait” that makes a person crime prone, or is crime is a function of environment and socialization? Docsity.com Forerunners of Control Theory • Emile Durkheim (late 19th century) • Industrial revolution • Collapse of social solidarity, the destruction of fundamental bonds uniting individuals • Different social order-each person is forced to go alone Docsity.com Forerunners of Control Theory • “collective force of society” was weakened • “relaxation of social bonds” is leading to extreme individualism • Result - Anomie and suicide Docsity.com The nature of “man” (Durkheim) • Homo Duplex concept • Social self – product of socialization, a civilized member of society • Egoistic self- is comprised of animal urges not controlled by society’s rules • Proper socialization, the egoistic self could become integrated into social self • Without this integration, deviance results Docsity.com Nye’s theory • Family is the most important agent of socialization • The more adolescent's needs for affection, security, and recognition are met within the family, they less they will deviate (direct and indirect controls will be strong) Docsity.com Sykes and Matza (1957) • Theory that explained delinquent behavior as the result of adolescents using “techniques of neutralization” • These techniques are justifications and excuses for committing delinquent acts • Delinquents believe in conventional values of society Docsity.com Techniques of neutralization • Denial of responsibility (not my fault) • Denial of injury (they have a lot, they will never miss it) • Denial of victim (I steal only from “outsiders”, “rednecks”) • Condemnation of condemners (they are worse than we are, they cannot blame me) • Appeal to higher loyalties (we have to do it to protect our turf size) Docsity.com Self-control • Self-control develops during early socialization • Once formed in childhood, the amount of self- control remain relatively stable throughout life • The source of low self-control is ineffective socialization (childrearing) • Parents who are attached to children, supervise, monitor and punish deviant acts (family is the most important agent) • Peer groups are relatively unimportant in the development of self-control Docsity.com Age-graded Theory 8-9 years 15-24 years 45-55 years Docsity.com Testability of self-control theory • “analogous behavior” (smoking, drinking, drug use, illicit sex) is manifestation of low self-control • Hirschi and Gottfredson do not define “self-control” separately from propensity to toward criminal/analogous behavior • Problem of tautology: low self-control causes low self-control, or deviance causes deviance • A separate measure for low self-control must be developed Docsity.com
