control theories of crime

Question 1

control theories?

Answer 1

-what causes someone to not commit crime
-individ are born as amoral, self-interested, hedonistic pleasure seekers
-crime is seen as natural, constant competition between selfish individuals encouraging criminal behaviour
-Conformity to social norms and behav is something people learn how to to do (it is not natural or inherent)
-A theory of conformity rather than a theory of deviance

Question 2

main assumption of control theories?

Answer 2

When ppl do not develop adequate ‘social controls’ in crime and deviance become more likely

Question 3

social bond theory?

Answer 3

-Travis hirichi argued that ppl are not socialized towards crime
-They are socialized away from it as they develop social bonds
-Rooted in durkheim’s notions of social bonds and collective beliefs
-Those with weak social bonds will be more prone towards crime

Question 4

4 elements of social bonds?

Answer 4

Attachment, commitment, involvement and belief

Question 5

attachment?

Answer 5

-Empathy and sensitivity we have for others and the way we want to be seen by the ppl we care about
-Strong attachments to others (friends, family) makes us less likely to commit crimes

Question 6

commitment?

Answer 6

-Stakes we have in ‘conventional’ success and conformity
-Crime might have a negative impact on our ability to maintain this commitment
-More commitment to conventional ‘success’ means less likelihood of committing crime

Question 7

involvement?

Answer 7

-Refers to one’s level of involvement in (sports, hobbies..etc) various life activities
-More ‘involved’ less likely to pursue crime

Question 8

belief?

Answer 8

-One’s personal investment and one’s opinions of society, the rule of law, the moral order..etc
-Stronger one’s personal beliefs in morals, values, and laws of society, less likely they are to commit crime

Question 9

general theory of crime

Answer 9

-self control theory of crime
-Developed by gottfredson and hirichi
-Significant revision of hirichi’s previous theory of social bonds
-Ambitiously and controversially attempts to explain all types of crime

Question 10

self control?

Answer 10

-most important factor that determines who commits crime and who does not

Question 11

low self control? characteristics?

Answer 11

-Low self control will ultimately lead to instability in life
-Unemployment, health problems, impulsivity, addiction..etyc
-All may be positively correlated w/ crime

-Low self control:
-Impulsive
-Adventurous/thrill seeking
-Self-centered
-Lazy
-Impatient
-Vindictive
-These characteristics are strong predictors of criminal/deviant behav

Question 12

how does one gain low self-control?

Answer 12

-low self control is acquired; no one is born with it
-“Bad” or ineffective parenting will cause a child to develop low self control
-Once set, largely ‘unchangeable’
-Nothing that happens later in life has an impact on self-control/criminality (after age of 10)
-Low self control often persists into adulthood

Question 13

how to develop ‘proper self-control’

Answer 13

-Parental supervision
-Recognition of their deviant/antisocial actions
-Appropriate discipline

Question 14

modern appr to self control theory?

Answer 14

-Controversial theory for many remained popular since 1990
-Most empirical testing over last 35 years has supported this theory
-Those with low self control DO tend to be significantly more likely to engage in criminal and deviant behav