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Social Control Theory
Social Control Theory
Social control theory attempts to explain how deviant behaviour can be prevented.
This involves the identification of factors which increase the risk of a person breaching social norms.
The social control theory of deviance suggests that deviant behaviour occurs because of inadequate inner personal restraint and a lack of outer social control.
Travis Hirschi?
Travis Hirschi?
Travis Hirschi was the lead sociologist in the creation of social control theory.
Hirschi, in 1969, outlined that virtually all existing criminological theories began with a faulty fundamental premise: that criminal behavior requires, in some form, the creation of criminal motivation.
He instead began his theory with the view that asking why offenders “do it” when it comes to crime and delinquency (Deviance) is, on its face, an irrelevant question. Instead, we should be asking, “why don’t we do it?”
Hirschi eventually came to the conclusion that the answer could be found in the bonds that people form to prosocial values, prosocial people, and prosocial institutions. It is these bonds, Hirschi held, that end up controlling our behavior when we are tempted to engage in criminal or deviant acts.
Sanctions
Sanctions
Social control theory emphasises the importance of the process of sanctions.
Sanctions are a societies response to deviant behaviour and can be both positive and negative.
Both positive and negative sanctions can be used to control undesired behaviours and encourage desired behaviours.
An example of a negative sanction is a parent taking away a kids phone or grounding them. Or a student being removed from the yard at recess by the school.
An example of a positive sanction is reciving a reward for a positive behaviour to reinforce it.
A bond?
A bond?
When we refer to a bond in sociology we are not talking about the same thing as economics or James Bond.
A bond in sociology refers to the level of connection to others within society an individual has.
A strong bond involves a sound and stable connection to others within society.
A weak bond involves a lack of strong and stable connections to others within society.
How bonds connect to society...
How bonds connect to society...
Essentially, social control theory looks at what binds (connects) people to society and the influence this bond has on a persons behaviour.
Simply put, social control theory looks at how the bonds we have and create prevent us from undertaking deviant behaviour.
The stronger a person's bonds are, the less likely they are to commit deviant actions. The strong bonds keep people committed to conforming to the norms.
People who have weak bonds are more likely to be deviant.
The 4 Core Bonds to Reduce Deviancy
Attachment
Commitment
Involvement
Belief in Social Values
Attachment
Attachment
Attachment refers to bonds between people, encouraging conformity to shared social norms.
When an individual cares what someone influential to them thinks, due to their strong emotional attachment, they are more likely to avoid deviant actions.
An example being Children with stronger bonds with their parents are less likely to be deviant. If a parent is aware of their childs whereabouts they have a stronger emotional attachment and subsequently the child is less likely to commit a deviant act.
Commitment
Commitment
Commitment refers to an individuals investment of time and energy in conventional behaviour.
Individuals with legitimate goals, commitments and aspirations will avoid sacrificing these through acts of deviance.
Hirschi outlines that an individual who wants to act in a deviant way will consider the costs and benefits of commiting a deviant act.
An example of this being a student who gets high grades and has aspirations of doing further study is less likely to do things at school which put that in jeopardy.
Involvement
Involvement
Involvement refers to the fact that someone who is intensively involved in socially approved activties has less time and opportunities to deviate.
Hirshi states that individuals involved in socially approved activities such as school, work or extracurricular activities (sports, clubs etc.) are less likely to encounter opportunities to deviate.
Young people who have less free time have fewer opportunities to commit deviance.
Belief in Social Values
Belief in Social Values
Belief in social values refers to holding shared values about what is important in life, resulting in an agreement and the reduction of deviancy.
Belief in social values refers to a persons convictions about what is right and wrong. These beliefs influence our decision making when presented with opportunities to deviate.
Those who hold beliefs that conform to societal norms and laws are less likely to engage in deviant behaviour.
Watch the following video!
Watch the following video!
Watch from the 2 minute mark until the 13 minute mark!
Activities to complete;
Activities to complete;
Ensure you have taken notes for this presentation
Complete activity K finding at least 3-5 more examples in question 1 (pg. 132/133)
Complete activity J (pg. 131)
Complete activity I (pg. 129)
Complete question 5 on pg 149.
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