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Control Theory and Conservative Criminology 7
Module: Criminological Theory (m900)
38 Documents
Students shared 38 documents in this course
University: University of the West of England
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Control Theory and Conservative Criminology 7/2/17
Control Theory developed by American sociologist Travis Hurst n 1960s
Basic CT Perspective
CT informed by understanding of human nature, the idea that humans are rational and egoistic.
Reason and self-interest govern human beings.
Rationality: efficient goal satisfaction, driven to pursue our self interet by whatever means are
available to us. Unlike other creature’s human beings are also rational, therefore are able to decide
the best way to get the things we desire.
Egoism: Self-interested hedonism
2 Consequences follow: (breaking the rules (crime)
Rationality – rule breaking is it benefits outweigh the penalties
Egoism – Rule breaking if the rules obstruct our goals
Crime happens when social controls fail for whatever reasons.
But for CT crime is also necessarily opportunistic. If we’re given the opportunity to break the rules,
we’ll take the opportunity unless something stops us.
There’s a growing super abundance of exciting goods that can be easily stolen. Since the war, there
has been a growing volume of property that can be stolen.
Because crime is opportunistic and because we’ve seen an increase in opportunities available, for
this reason crime has grown.
Travis Hirschi’s Social Control Theory
In Causes of Delinquences Hirschi argues:
Social order based on regulation (social bonds) not integration (value commitments)
Our conformity is sustained on a day to day basis by our interactions with people.
(church/school/workplace etc) This process of interaction involves the making and remaking of social
bonds. The social bonds that link us with society operate as control mechanisms and these controls
keep our egoistic desires controlled.
Hirschi argues there are four types of social bonds that ensure social conformity:
- Attachment: Form an emotional bond with each other and with social institution.
Individuals with conform is they form close emotional relations with significant others who
are good role models. Primarily formed with parents, also with teachers.
Hirschi doesn’t always mean a strong attachment with people who love each other. But more
so provisional and superficial (school/workplace). Only if its seen as beneficial to us.
Maintained only by regular ongoing relationships with institutions and only if the reaction of
people reinforces that attachment.
- Commitment: A sense of dedication we have to other people or institutions. Not necessarily
some deep internal dedication. Not self-sacrifice (egoistic) but the degree at which we
devote time and energy to them and the degree at which they reward them. If we find
commitments to institutions rewarding we commit to them if not we abandon them.
Deviance happens when our social bond to institution weakens.
