Control Theories Fundamentals of Control Theory The Issue

Control Theories

Fundamentals of Control Theory • The Issue: Why are most people not deviant? • Hirschi’s views on society and human nature: – Humans are “naturally-motivated offenders. ” – Society is built on consensus on “rules”; in social settings, people give up their “human nature. ” • Hirschi on the nature of crime and deviance – – It’s solitary. It’s self-interested. It’s opportunistic. It’s easy.

Social Control Theory (original version): The “Bonds” • Bonds that encourage conformity: – Attachment – Commitment – Involvement – Belief • Bonds have independent and additive effects, but “belief” is probably the strongest.

Self Control Theory: An Update of Control Theory (Hirschi and Gottfredson) • SCT is a “general theory of crime. ” • Crime per SCT has six elements: – Immediate gratification – Satisfies simple needs (like monetary) – Provides excitement – Provides few long-term benefits – Requires little skill – Causes its victims pain

Self Control Theory (cont. ) • Causes of low self control: – Lack of nurturance in infancy and early childhood – “Poor child monitoring, ” ie, lack of discipline – Dysfunctional family structures, eg, big families, single-parent households • Crime prevention starts at home.

Empirical Support for Control Theories • Studies in schools suggest that bonds (commitment and involvement) to conventional activities do prevent delinquency. • Studies of prisoners support SCT: Robbers are impulsive and self-centred, not “rational. ”

Criticisms of Control Theories • Unsupported basic assumptions • Avoidance of situational/structural factors (aside from families) • Bizarre arguments regarding “at-risk” persons • Reliance on self-reports • Tautology: the result of low self-control is also operationalized as an indicator of low self-control: Being deviant makes one deviant.