Module 8: Social Control Theories Flashcards
Social Control Theory
People refrain from committing criminal acts because they do not want to jeopardize their bonds to conventional society.
“Why don’t we all commit deviance?”
Social Bonds
The degree to which an individual has ties to his or her society. Hirschi: attachment, commitment, involvement, belief.
Egoistic Suicide
Micro. When weak social constraints, and person acts in self-interest.
Anomic Suicide
Macro. Occurs when lack of social integration leaves society, without a clear system of moral beliefs and sentiments.
Ecological Fallacy
An error made when info is gathered at a group level, and conclusions are drawn about individuals.
Social Controls
Ties to social groups.
Personal Controls
Internalized by an individual.
Hirschi and the Social Bond
Commitment, Attachment, Involvement, Belief.
Criticisms of Social Control Theory
Doesn’t explain white-collar crime,
or motivation to engage in criminal behaviour,
too individualistic.
Social Disorganization Theories
Durkheim, Thrasher, Shaw, McKay.
Deviance will be highest in disorganized communities that lack social controls.
Early Social Control Theories
Reiss, Nye.
Stress the importance of personal controls, particularly those provided by family.
Social Bond Theory
Hirschi.
The four elements of the social bond.
Attachment, Involvement, Commitment, Belief.
General Theory of Crime
Gottfredson, Hirschi.
Individuals with low self-control have greater propensity to commit crime when they have to opportunity to do so.
Control-Differential Association Theory
Linden.
Lack of ties to the conventional order will increase the likelihood of association with deviant peers. These ties will in turn increase the probability of delinquency involvement.
