Chapter 5: Social Control Theory Flashcards
What is so unique about control theory that sets it apart from other theories?
It asks the question why DONT people commit crimes
According to social control theory, what is the control that keeps us from committing crimes?
Bonds. When controls (bonds) are present, crime does not occur.
What is the main theoretical premise of social control theory?
Because crime is fun, enjoyable, and rewarding when controls are absent, crime is possible and often does occur.
Who created anomie theory?
Durkheim
Control theory was most popular in what year?
1960’s
According to Durkheim, what two sets of functions was maintained by social solidarity?
1) integration-a state of cohesion
2) regulation-sum of social forces of constraint that bound individuals to norms.
Durkheim would say that…
technology and the rise of capitalism as well as competition has led to this eroded sense of community.
What 2 chicago school themes remained central throughout control and the disorganization perspective?
1) the interpretations of human nature
2) the nature of community
What was Charles Cooley’s Theory?
The looking glass self
what is the main primary group that influences us in the theory of the looking glass self?
The family.
What was Sykes and Matza’s theory
Neutralization and Drift
What are the seven neutralizations?
1) Denial of responsibility
2) Denial of injury
3) Denial of the victim
4) Condemnation of the condemners
5) Appeal to higher loyalties
6) Defense of necessity
7) Everybody does it
8) Justification by comparison
9) Postponement
Who added on the last couple neutralizations to Sykes and Matza’s list?
Coleman
What was George Herbert Mead’s theory?
The I and me
What did Albert Reiss believe?
That a combination of personal control and social control would predict your likelihood of engaging in delinquency.
What did Nye seek to explain?
Why delinquent and criminal behavior is not more common.
According to Nye, what/who has the most important social control over adolescents?
Family
What controls does Nye mention?
1) direct control
2) internalized control
3) indirect control
4) control through alternative means of satisfaction
(These types of control are mutually reinforcing)
Who theorized containment theory?
Walter Reckless
What are the two types of containment and what do they mean?
outer containment-the social pressures that would either keep us out of crime or perhaps push us into it and inner containment-things within a person/characteristics they had that would either prevent or lead to crime.
What are the key factors of inner containment?
self concept
goal orientation
frustration tolerance
norm retention
What breaks the social control according to containment theory?
push and pull (the bonds that break the social control) would bring you out of containment (the social control)
