Week 3 - Control Theories (Desistance & Persistence)

Question 1

What is desistance?

Answer 1

“The situated absence of a certain type of event” (Maruna, 2001). Literally means stop committing crime

Question 2

How does Shover (1985) relate offenders to desistance and ageing?

Answer 2

Shover (1985) proposes that offenders change with age

Question 3

What is control theory?

Answer 3

Control Theory proposes that there needs to be a focus on restraining or “controlling” factors such as social control, including sanctions

Question 4

Who researched “Containment Theory”?

Answer 4

Reckless (1967)

Question 5

What is Containment Theory?

Answer 5

Containment Theory researches the external and internal structures of protection and says that the self-concept is the key factor for crime

Question 6

What influence does having a positive self-concept have in an individual?

Answer 6

Someone with a positive self-concept is a law-abiding citizen and the inner and outer systems of control help protect individuals from pressure, pulls and pushes that could lead to deviance

Question 7

Name some internal pushes to deviance and crime

Answer 7

Restlessness, discontent, anxiety and hostility

Question 8

Name some internal pulls to deviance and crime

Answer 8

Deviant peers, membership in a deviant/criminal gang and pornography

Question 9

Name some external pressures that could lead to deviance and crime

Answer 9

Adverse living conditions, relative deprivation, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and inequality

Question 10

Who researched “Techniques of Neutralization”?

Answer 10

Sykes and Matza (1957)

Question 11

What is “Techniques of Neutralization”?

Answer 11

This rejects the view that delinquents have their own moral code, and instead justify their own crimes as exceptions to the rules of society

Question 12

What are the two levels of values under the “Techniques of Neutralization”?

Answer 12

Conventional and Subterranean Values

Question 13

What are the 5 rationalisation techniques under the “Techniques of Neutralisation”?

Answer 13

Denial of responsibility, injury, the victim, condemnation of the condemners and appeal to higher loyalties.

Question 14

Who proposed the “Bonds of Attachment”?

Answer 14

Hirschi (1969)

Question 15

What is the “Bonds of Attachment” in relation to crime?

Answer 15

Bonds of Attachment proposes that crime happens because the individuals bond to society has weakened, and that it is social controls that maintain law and order.

Question 16

What are the four main bonds under the “Bonds of Attachment”?

Answer 16

Attachment, Commitment, Involvement and Belief

Question 17

Who developed the Self-Control Theory?

Answer 17

Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990)

Question 18

What is the Self-Control Theory?

Answer 18

It proposes that it is the lack of individual self-control that is the main factor behind criminal behaviour, and that crime is committed because of opportunity

Question 19

How does Self-Control Theory relate childhood to crime?

Answer 19

It proposes that self-control is developed during childhood and that it is the role of the parent to monitor, recognise and punish deviant behaviour

Question 20

According to Self-Control theory, how does crime satisfy the offender?

Answer 20

It proposes that crime is used as a short-term impulsive need and supplies immediate gratification to the offender, as they ignore the long-term consequences for their actions

Question 21

How do people with higher levels of self-control act according to Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990)?

Answer 21

People with higher levels of self-control will be better weigh the consequences of their actions and restrain their actions when presented with criminal opportunity

Question 22

How do people with low levels of self-control act according to Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990)?

Answer 22

People who lack self-control will be impulsive, physical, risk-taking, short-sighted, and non-verbal and therefore tend to engage in criminal activities

Question 23

Who developed Theory of Moral Action?

Answer 23

Wikstrom (2004)

Question 24

What are the fundamental arguments of Social Action Theory?

Answer 24

It argues that acts of crime are moral actions and deliberate choice, and therefore cannot be biologically or psychologically determined

Question 25

According to Social Action Theory, what does the likelihood of committing crime depend on?

Answer 25

The likelihood of committing crime depends on their individual propensity and exposure to crimogenic environment (self-control vs deterrence)