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:
- 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.
- 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.