TRAVIS HIRSCHI

Sociological Theories of Deviance

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

UMD

CONTROL THEORY

DELINQUENCY IS THE RESULT OF A WEAK OR BROKEN BOND TO SOCIETY

1. WHAT IN PARTICULAR ARE INDIVIDUALS BONDED TO?
OPEN TO INVESTIGATION

2. WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO ACT?
THAT IS ALSO AN OPEN QUESTION

THE QUESTION IS NOT;
"WHY DO THEY DO IT?"

THE QUESTION REMAINS;
"WHY DON'T WE DO IT?"

THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE BOND

  1. ATTACHMENT

    ATTACHMENT TO SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

    INTERNALIZE NORMS AND VALUES

    RESPECT FOR THOSE YOU CARE FOR (INDIRECT CONTROL)

  2. COMMITMENT

    COMMITMENT TO A PARTICULAR LINE OF ACTION

    A. UNDERSTANDS THE RAMIFICATIONS FOR PURSUING OTHER INTERESTS

    B. THIS PROVIDES ONE A STAKE IN CONFORMITY

  3. INVOLVEMENT

    LEGITIMATE USE OF TIME AND ENERGY

    A. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

    B. TOO MUCH LEISURE TIME LEADS TO PROBLEMS

  4. BELIEF

    BELIEF IN COMMON VALUE SYSTEM


WHAT MOTIVATES SOMEONE TO DEVIANCE?

"WE ASSUME, IN CONTRAST, THAT THERE IS VARIATION IN THE EXTENT TO WHICH PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD OBEY THE RULES OF SOCIETY, AND, FURTHERMORE, THAT THE LESS A PERSON BELIEVES HE [OR SHE] SHOULD OBEY THE RULES, THE MORE LIKELY HE [OR SHE] IS TO VIOLATE THEM."


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