CRIMINOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME
Hirschi’s Social Control Theory
This theory states that everyone has the potential to become a
criminal, but most people are controlled by their bonds to society.
Crime occurs when the forces that bind people to society are
weakened or broken. The social control theory:
-focuses on why ppl follow the law rather than why they commit crimes
-focus is on the four major elements that in uence whether a person is
likely to commit crimes to achieve their goals, or to follow the law
~Attachment: ties of affection & respect to the signi cant people in a
person’s life & sensitivity to opinion of others. The stronger the
attachment and the stronger the expectations, the more likely it is that
the individual will conform to their expectations
~Commitment: the level of the person’s time and energy, they spend
in legal activities. The more an individual commits to a particular
lifestyle, the more they have to lose if they becomes involved in crime.
~Belief: the degree to which a person agrees in the rightness of the
law, which in turn re ects their morals, values. If a person has been
brought up to be law abiding, they are less likely to become involved
in crime.
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, ~Involvement: participation in conventional activities (The more time
the individual spends engaging in law abiding behaviour, the less time
they hv to engage in law breaking behaviour.)
Strain/structure/anomie theories:
This theory states that modern societies puts pressure on individuals
to achieve culturally approved status goals, while also limiting
institutional access to resources that can help them attain the goals.
Cultural assumptions generally expect members to achieve goals
through legitimate means. The means are generally higher education
to achieve normalised goals such as high paying jobs and wealth.
Society teaches people to attain the “capitalist dream” of nancial
wealth but legitimate channels and resources are usually limited to
those in higher-class statuses. This exerts pressure (strain) and creates
a divide between a person’s restraint and their criminal impulses.
Adapting to Strain
Ritualists:
Are the people who conform to society’s cultural assumptions without
any real expectation of reaching them
Are the people who work hard everyday knowing that they will
probably never be able to live the capitalist dream; but continue to
work everyday to earn a living.
Rebellion:
fi
Hirschi’s Social Control Theory
This theory states that everyone has the potential to become a
criminal, but most people are controlled by their bonds to society.
Crime occurs when the forces that bind people to society are
weakened or broken. The social control theory:
-focuses on why ppl follow the law rather than why they commit crimes
-focus is on the four major elements that in uence whether a person is
likely to commit crimes to achieve their goals, or to follow the law
~Attachment: ties of affection & respect to the signi cant people in a
person’s life & sensitivity to opinion of others. The stronger the
attachment and the stronger the expectations, the more likely it is that
the individual will conform to their expectations
~Commitment: the level of the person’s time and energy, they spend
in legal activities. The more an individual commits to a particular
lifestyle, the more they have to lose if they becomes involved in crime.
~Belief: the degree to which a person agrees in the rightness of the
law, which in turn re ects their morals, values. If a person has been
brought up to be law abiding, they are less likely to become involved
in crime.
fl fl fi
, ~Involvement: participation in conventional activities (The more time
the individual spends engaging in law abiding behaviour, the less time
they hv to engage in law breaking behaviour.)
Strain/structure/anomie theories:
This theory states that modern societies puts pressure on individuals
to achieve culturally approved status goals, while also limiting
institutional access to resources that can help them attain the goals.
Cultural assumptions generally expect members to achieve goals
through legitimate means. The means are generally higher education
to achieve normalised goals such as high paying jobs and wealth.
Society teaches people to attain the “capitalist dream” of nancial
wealth but legitimate channels and resources are usually limited to
those in higher-class statuses. This exerts pressure (strain) and creates
a divide between a person’s restraint and their criminal impulses.
Adapting to Strain
Ritualists:
Are the people who conform to society’s cultural assumptions without
any real expectation of reaching them
Are the people who work hard everyday knowing that they will
probably never be able to live the capitalist dream; but continue to
work everyday to earn a living.
Rebellion:
fi
