Week 11 - Social Control Theory

Question 1

What is social control theory?

Answer 1

What must be explained is “why people obey rules”

Explain factors keeping people from committing crime

If bonds are weak or broken we may engage in deviance

Question 2

Who invented the social control theory?

Answer 2

Travis Hirschi

Question 3

What is the social context of Hirschi’s social control theory?

Answer 3

Reaction to 1960s liberalism

Defenders of the status quo

Great society loses steam

Watergate disillusionment

Iranian hostage crisis

Oil/Fuel shortages

Increasing conservatism

Question 4

What is the intellectual context of social control theory?

Answer 4

Anomie as a breakdown of social control

Rise of the criminal justice system (survey research and self-report studies)

Question 4

Who is the father of social control theory?

Answer 4

Emile Durkheim

Question 5

What are Durkeims coined terms about collective conscience?

Answer 5

Automatic Spontaneity - Natural response without thinking

Awakened Reflection - Reflecting on the reasons behind your behaviour

For example, Animals eating habits

Question 6

What is Walter Recklesses Theory

Answer 6

Containment Theory

Not interested in what caused crime but rather what are the risks and who is at risk

Question 7

What are the two types of containment?

Answer 7

Outer Containment
- Social pressure
- Meaningful roles (coach & neighbour)
- Ground Rules (law)
It doesn’t matter, if the inner is good

Inner Containment
- Individuals ability to obey the law
- Able to withstand rejections and setbacks
- Goal-oriented (maintenance of norms)

Question 8

What is Skyes & Matza’s Theory?

Answer 8

Techniques of Neutralization (Drift theory)

People temporarily suspend or neutralize commitment to moral bonds

Question 9

What are the 5 techniques of neutralization?

Answer 9

They provide excuses for deviance

1. Denial of responsibility (I didn’t mean it)
2. Denial of injury (I didn’t hurt anybody) (academic misconduct)
3. Denial of victim (Victim blaming)
4. Condemn the Condemners (cheat on a test but blame the prof)
5. Appeal to a higher authority (Hell’s angels)

Question 10

What are the conventional values of Matzas Dirift’s theory?

Answer 10

Criminal express guilt

Criminals may have non-criminal “heroes”

Criminals define who they want to victimize

Criminals also participate in non-criminals social groups and institutions

Question 11

What are the 4 elements of Hirschi’s social bond?

Answer 11

Attachment
- Ties to important people
- Sensitivity to opinions

Commitment
- Investments in norms (education & career)

Involvement
- Time spent on activities
- lack of free time (school clubs)

Belief (bit weaker today)
- Law is seen as right (respect for authorities)