Control Theories
Why Individuals do not commit crimes or become deviant?

Causes of Delinquency (1969) Travis Hirischi

Key elements: 4 types of positive bonding to social order - will reduce the chances youth will become juvenile delinquents.

commitment

Involvement

attachment

belief

close to positive others (perents, peers, school)

commitment is conforming to social
norms and to conventional society.

spending positive time in conventional activities including work, sport, recreation, hobbies…

supporting the laws and the legal system

A General Theory of Crime (1990) Michael R. Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi:

Broke away from Hirchi’s earlier thinking that crime was a result of weakened bonds to conventional society.


crime is a result of low self-control FOR ALL TYPE OF CRIME!

CONTROL BALANCE THEORY (1995) CHARLES R. TITTLE

All individuals experience some form of control over their lives.

control balace

No deviance

STRUCTURAL CRIMINOLOGY 1998 JOHN HAGAN

Different expirience between Boys and girls in the types of socialization. Both patriarchal and egalitarian families are involved in reproducing gender roles

Patriarchal families

Equalitarian families

Daughters severely controlled by their mothers

educated to be feminine and to accept their limited roles in life.

Boys, less monitored or supervised. More risk to become deviant

both boys and girls are taught by their parents that risk taking is acceptable, and since mothers also work full-time outside the home and spend less time supervising their children, both girls and boys may engage in juvenile delinquent behaviours.

control imbalance

People controlled or are controlled more than they control

Deviance

Repression

Autonomie (controll surplus)

Parents are responsible for low self-control and the criminality of their children.

The person who cares for the child will watch his behavior and correct him if he’s doing things he shouldn’t do. The result is a child more capable of delaying gratification,


criminals lack restraint: they lack control over their inhibitions and desire immediate gratification.