Chapter 11 - Social Control Theory

Question 1

What is the difference between Control theory and social control theory

Answer 1

Control theory involves all things that may control an individuals behaviour where as
- Social control theories focus on social factors controlling behaviour
—> Bonds to moral order increase our conformity and decrease our deviance

Question 2

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

Answer 2

• reaction to 1960s liberalism
• Defenders of status quo
• Great society loses steam (assassinations of Kennedy and king)
• Watergate disillusionment
• Iranian hostage crisis
• Oil/fuel shortages
• Increasing conservatism

Question 3

What is the Intellectual context of social control theory?

Answer 3

• anomie breakdowns social control
• Rise of CJs (survey research and self-report studies)

Question 4

What was Durkheim’s view of Social Control Theory?

Answer 4

• Every society has crime (society without crime would be abnormal)
• crime is normal
• crime defines boundaries of good behaviour providing visible social reaction

Question 5

What is Reckless’s containment theory?

Answer 5

• Not interested in what caused crime, rather: what and who are the risks
• out and inner containment

Question 6

What is Outer containment?

Answer 6

• outer containment is social pressure and community norms (avoids being outcast as someone who misbehaves)

o Ground rules: place reasonable limits on actions
o Meaningful roles: assist individuals in conforming (coach, neighbor, scout leaders

Question 7

Reckless Inner Containment

Answer 7

• own ability to conform and create self-concept as law abiding person

o Goal-oriented,
o Frustration tolerance
o Retention of norms, internalization of behavior that is expected by the outside group

Question 8

What happens if Inner and outer containment combines?

Answer 8

• Conformity If both are good
• Conformity if inner is good and outer is bad
• Deviance If both are bad

Question 9

What are the five techniques of neutralization

Answer 9

• Techniques allow person to temporarily suspend or neutralize commitment to middle-class moral bonds
  1. denial of responsibility
• not taking responsibility for your actions
  2. Denial of injury
• ex; Downloading a movie off of an illegal site –> nobody got killed nobody was harmed so its fine
  3. Denial of the victim ( think of victim blaming)
• Sexual assault - looking at what she was wearing
  4. Condemn the condemners
• Cheated on the test and blame the teacher because he made the test hard so I just cheated
  5. Appeal to a higher authority
• Killing bob because god told me to do it

Used to rationalize delinquents acts – “really wasn’t my fault or something bad”

Question 10

What is 4 values MATZAS DRIFT THEORY?

Answer 10

o Criminals express guilt
o Criminals may have non-criminal ‘heroes’
o Criminals define who they may victimize
o Criminals participate in non criminal social groups and institutions

Question 11

What are the 4 elements of hirschi’s social bond

Answer 11

1. Attachment
   - ties to people who are important to us
   - feelings of obligation to others who control our actions
   - ex; parents
2. Commitment
   - investment in conventional pursuits
   - ex; education
3. Involvement
   - the time you spend in conventional activities
   - ex; clubs and athletics
4. Belief
   - giving moral validity to conventional norms
   - ex; respecting authority

Question 12

What are Durkheims coined terms on collective conscience?

Answer 12

1. automatic spontaneity
   - natural response without thinking
2. awakened reflection
   - reflecting of the reasons behind your behaviour