Social Control Theory

Question 1

What are background assumptions of control theory?

Answer 1

Humans are hedonistic; human desires must be regulated by societal norms

Question 2

What is the main question behind control theory?

Answer 2

Why do people choose not to commit crime?

Question 3

What is Control theory’s answer to why people choose not to commit crime?

Answer 3

Sufficient social controls lead to conformity (not committing crime)

Question 4

What are the three types of social control?

Answer 4

Indirect, direct, internal

Question 5

What is indirect control?

Answer 5

Something valuable that a person does not want to lose

Question 6

What is a direct social control?

Answer 6

Control from direct authority

Question 7

What is internal control?

Answer 7

Personal control over one’s impulses

Question 8

What is the difference between formal and informal social control?

Answer 8

Formal control is established institutions, like the CJS, and informal control is unwritten regulations, like parents rules

Question 9

Under control theory, what is a failure of social control?

Answer 9

Relative absence of internalized norms, a breakdown in previously established controls, relative absence of social rules or techniques

Question 10

What are stakes in conformity?

Answer 10

What people can lose

Question 11

What type of person has a lower stake in conformity?

Answer 11

Low socioeconomic boys

Question 12

How did Brian and Piliavin adjust stakes in conformity theory?

Answer 12

Not just stake in conformity, but the individual’s commitment to stakes in conformity

Question 13

What are the aspects of containment theory?

Answer 13

Inner containment, outer containment

Question 14

What is inner containment?

Answer 14

The individual’s self-concept; self-image

Question 15

What is outer containment?

Answer 15

Direct control by others through supervision or discipline

Question 16

What will pushes and pulls result in according to containment theory?

Answer 16

Result in delinquency unless counteracted by containments

Question 17

What are the 5 techniques of neutralization?

Answer 17

Denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of victim, condemning the condemners, appeal to higher loyalties

Question 18

What is the idea behind drift and crime?

Answer 18

People have loosened controls and will drift between opportunities of crime (fluid)

Question 19

What are the four aspects of Hirschi’s social control (bond) theory?

Answer 19

Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief

Question 20

What does attachment mean in social bond theory?

Answer 20

Connection/relationship with parents or peers; sensitivity to the opinions of others

Question 21

What does commitment mean in social bond theory?

Answer 21

Stakes in conformity; rational investment in conventional behavior

Question 22

What does involvement mean in social bond theory?

Answer 22

Participation in conventional activities

Question 23

What does belief mean in social bond theory?

Answer 23

Strength of commitment to conventional values of society

Question 24

Which aspect of social bond theory did not have support?

Answer 24

Belief

Question 25

What are some criticisms of social bond theory?

Answer 25

Peer relationship is underestimated; not all elements of the bond are equal; does not account for changing bonds