Subjects

Subjects

More

Search

AI Knowunity

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Subjects

/

Criminology

All About Social Control Theory and Containment Theory

View

All About Social Control Theory and Containment Theory
user profile picture

Luna

@adhdluna_

·

1,503 Followers

Follow

Social control theory posits that individuals conform to societal norms due to the bonds they form with society. This theory, developed by Hirschi (1969), identifies four key elements of social bonding that prevent criminal behavior: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. The strength of these bonds determines an individual's likelihood of engaging in delinquent acts.

  • Attachment to others, especially parents and teachers, fosters respect for societal norms
  • Commitment to conventional goals reduces the risk of criminal involvement
  • Involvement in law-abiding activities leaves less time for criminal pursuits
  • Belief in the importance of obeying laws decreases the likelihood of breaking them

Walter Reckless's containment theory, a variant of social control theory, emphasizes inner and outer containment as factors preventing criminal behavior. Inner containment stems from family influence, while outer containment relates to societal laws and social group influences.

02/09/2022

269

control theory Travis Hirschi (1969) believed that people conform because of the bonds they have formed with the society in which they live.

View

Containment Theory: Inner and Outer Influences on Behavior

Walter Reckless's containment theory, developed in 1974, offers a nuanced perspective on social control theory. This approach focuses on the concept of containment as a means of preventing criminal behavior. Reckless identifies two primary forms of containment:

  1. Inner Containment: This refers to the internal psychological factors that help individuals resist criminal tendencies. Inner containment is largely shaped by an individual's upbringing, with family influence playing a crucial role.

Definition: Inner containment encompasses self-control, self-concept, ego strength, and other internal mechanisms that help individuals conform to societal norms.

  1. Outer Containment: This involves external social factors that discourage criminal behavior. Outer containment includes the influence of social groups and the broader societal framework, including laws and social norms.

Example: A strong community support system and clear legal consequences for criminal actions are forms of outer containment.

The theory posits that a combination of these internal psychological containments and external social containments works to prevent individuals from deviating from social norms and engaging in criminal activities.

Highlight: The effectiveness of containment in preventing crime depends on the strength and interaction of both inner and outer containment factors.

Containment theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how various internal and external factors contribute to an individual's ability to resist criminal impulses and conform to societal expectations.

Vocabulary: Containment, in this context, refers to the factors that "contain" or restrain an individual's potential for criminal behavior.

This theory complements Hirschi's social bond theory by emphasizing the importance of both personal psychological factors and broader social influences in shaping law-abiding behavior.

control theory Travis Hirschi (1969) believed that people conform because of the bonds they have formed with the society in which they live.

View

Social Bond Theory: The Four Elements of Societal Attachment

Travis Hirschi's social bond theory, also known as social control theory, proposes that individuals conform to societal norms due to the bonds they form with society. This theory, outlined in Hirschi's 1969 work, identifies four crucial elements that comprise an individual's bond to society:

  1. Attachment: This element emphasizes the importance of emotional connections to others, particularly parents and teachers. The stronger these attachments, the more an individual values others' opinions and respects societal norms.

Example: A student with a strong attachment to their teacher is more likely to follow classroom rules and strive for academic success.

  1. Commitment: This refers to an individual's investment in conventional goals, such as educational and career success. The more committed one is to a conventional lifestyle, the more they risk losing by engaging in criminal activities.

Highlight: High levels of commitment to societal goals act as a deterrent to criminal behavior.

  1. Involvement: Participation in conventional, law-abiding activities leaves less time and energy for criminal pursuits. This element suggests that keeping individuals engaged in positive activities can reduce delinquency.

Example: A student heavily involved in after-school sports and clubs has less opportunity to engage in criminal activities.

  1. Belief: This element focuses on an individual's internalized moral code and belief in the legitimacy of societal laws and norms.

Definition: Belief, in the context of social bond theory, refers to the extent to which an individual accepts and adheres to the moral validity of society's rules.

Hirschi argues that delinquent acts occur when an individual's bond with society is weak or broken. The theory provides insights into how these bonds can break down:

Example: Attachment can weaken if a student has a significant disagreement with a teacher, leading to a loss of respect for authority and increased likelihood of rule-breaking behavior.

Example: Commitment may diminish if a student loses interest in education, resulting in a lack of concern for future consequences and reduced motivation to achieve conventional goals.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Subjects

/

Criminology

All About Social Control Theory and Containment Theory

user profile picture

Luna

@adhdluna_

·

1,503 Followers

Follow

Social control theory posits that individuals conform to societal norms due to the bonds they form with society. This theory, developed by Hirschi (1969), identifies four key elements of social bonding that prevent criminal behavior: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. The strength of these bonds determines an individual's likelihood of engaging in delinquent acts.

  • Attachment to others, especially parents and teachers, fosters respect for societal norms
  • Commitment to conventional goals reduces the risk of criminal involvement
  • Involvement in law-abiding activities leaves less time for criminal pursuits
  • Belief in the importance of obeying laws decreases the likelihood of breaking them

Walter Reckless's containment theory, a variant of social control theory, emphasizes inner and outer containment as factors preventing criminal behavior. Inner containment stems from family influence, while outer containment relates to societal laws and social group influences.

02/09/2022

269

 

12/13

 

Criminology

5

control theory Travis Hirschi (1969) believed that people conform because of the bonds they have formed with the society in which they live.

Containment Theory: Inner and Outer Influences on Behavior

Walter Reckless's containment theory, developed in 1974, offers a nuanced perspective on social control theory. This approach focuses on the concept of containment as a means of preventing criminal behavior. Reckless identifies two primary forms of containment:

  1. Inner Containment: This refers to the internal psychological factors that help individuals resist criminal tendencies. Inner containment is largely shaped by an individual's upbringing, with family influence playing a crucial role.

Definition: Inner containment encompasses self-control, self-concept, ego strength, and other internal mechanisms that help individuals conform to societal norms.

  1. Outer Containment: This involves external social factors that discourage criminal behavior. Outer containment includes the influence of social groups and the broader societal framework, including laws and social norms.

Example: A strong community support system and clear legal consequences for criminal actions are forms of outer containment.

The theory posits that a combination of these internal psychological containments and external social containments works to prevent individuals from deviating from social norms and engaging in criminal activities.

Highlight: The effectiveness of containment in preventing crime depends on the strength and interaction of both inner and outer containment factors.

Containment theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how various internal and external factors contribute to an individual's ability to resist criminal impulses and conform to societal expectations.

Vocabulary: Containment, in this context, refers to the factors that "contain" or restrain an individual's potential for criminal behavior.

This theory complements Hirschi's social bond theory by emphasizing the importance of both personal psychological factors and broader social influences in shaping law-abiding behavior.

control theory Travis Hirschi (1969) believed that people conform because of the bonds they have formed with the society in which they live.

Social Bond Theory: The Four Elements of Societal Attachment

Travis Hirschi's social bond theory, also known as social control theory, proposes that individuals conform to societal norms due to the bonds they form with society. This theory, outlined in Hirschi's 1969 work, identifies four crucial elements that comprise an individual's bond to society:

  1. Attachment: This element emphasizes the importance of emotional connections to others, particularly parents and teachers. The stronger these attachments, the more an individual values others' opinions and respects societal norms.

Example: A student with a strong attachment to their teacher is more likely to follow classroom rules and strive for academic success.

  1. Commitment: This refers to an individual's investment in conventional goals, such as educational and career success. The more committed one is to a conventional lifestyle, the more they risk losing by engaging in criminal activities.

Highlight: High levels of commitment to societal goals act as a deterrent to criminal behavior.

  1. Involvement: Participation in conventional, law-abiding activities leaves less time and energy for criminal pursuits. This element suggests that keeping individuals engaged in positive activities can reduce delinquency.

Example: A student heavily involved in after-school sports and clubs has less opportunity to engage in criminal activities.

  1. Belief: This element focuses on an individual's internalized moral code and belief in the legitimacy of societal laws and norms.

Definition: Belief, in the context of social bond theory, refers to the extent to which an individual accepts and adheres to the moral validity of society's rules.

Hirschi argues that delinquent acts occur when an individual's bond with society is weak or broken. The theory provides insights into how these bonds can break down:

Example: Attachment can weaken if a student has a significant disagreement with a teacher, leading to a loss of respect for authority and increased likelihood of rule-breaking behavior.

Example: Commitment may diminish if a student loses interest in education, resulting in a lack of concern for future consequences and reduced motivation to achieve conventional goals.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.