Social Control Theory Overview

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Questions and Answers

The origins of social control theory can be traced back to the _ and to the French sociologist ___.

1890s, Emile Durkheim

According to his view of human nature, individual aspirations and appetites knew no _______.

natural bonds

He said that without _, humans would be unrestrained and lacking in ____.

civilization, moral standards

According to social control theorists, _____ cannot be taken for granted.

conformity Signup and view all the answers

The motivation to engage in criminal behaviour is _____.

widespread Signup and view all the answers

If you want social control, then you need effective ______.

socialization Signup and view all the answers

_ identified a cause-effect relationship between social disorganization and the breakdown of ___.

Shaw and McKay, informed social controls Signup and view all the answers

Other members of __ who contributed to the development of social control theory included _.

the Chicago School, Albert Reiss and Walter Reckless Signup and view all the answers

Albert Reiss wrote about _________.

delinquency as a failure of personal and social controls Signup and view all the answers

Walter Reckless wrote about ________.

containment theory Signup and view all the answers

The four main elements of social bond theory are _______.

attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs Signup and view all the answers

____ employed Robert Merton's notion of anomie-strain and elements of _ social learning theory in his ____.

Robert Agnew, Ronald Akers', general strain theory Signup and view all the answers

Laub and Sampson used the concepts of attachment, commitment and social bonds in their ________.

turning points theory Signup and view all the answers

What refers to the process that individuals go through when they get socialized?

Socialization Signup and view all the answers

What is social control theory traced back to?

Emile Durkheim's view of human nature Signup and view all the answers

What do Shaw and McKay argue leads to youth gangs and delinquency?

A breakdown of informal social controls Signup and view all the answers

Who wrote about inner and outer containment?

Walter Reckless Signup and view all the answers

Identify one reason why effective socialization is necessary according to social control theorists.

To promote conformity Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Traced back to the 1890s and French sociologist Emile Durkheim.
Durkheim's view: Human aspirations are limitless without natural bonds and civilization.
Absence of moral standards leads to unrestrained behavior.

Conformity is not guaranteed; motivation for criminal behavior exists widely.
Effective socialization is necessary for social control to be successful.
Shaw and McKay identified the link between social disorganization and the weakening of informed social controls.

The Chicago School played a significant role in developing social control theory; key figures include Albert Reiss and Walter Reckless.
Reiss viewed delinquency as a failure of personal and social controls.
Reckless introduced the Containment Theory, focusing on internal pushes and external pulls.

Originated by Travis Hirschi, influenced by Emile Durkheim and the Chicago School.
Social bond theory is central to social control theory, with four main elements: attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs.

General Strain Theory

Robert Agnew integrated Merton's concepts of anomie and elements of Ronald Akers' social learning theory.
Developed the general strain theory focusing on societal pressures leading to criminal behavior.
Terrence Thornberry's interactional theory utilized concepts of attachment and commitment.
Laub and Sampson incorporated these concepts in their turning points theory.

Importance of Socialization

Effective socialization is crucial for encouraging conformity and maintaining social control.
It encompasses parental supervision, role modeling by adults, and teaching societal norms.
A failure to internalize social norms leads to weakened social controls and increased delinquency.

Based on Durkheim's ideas of moral standards and the necessity of community structures for conformity.
Highlights that criminal behavior is not unique but common; thus emphasizing the need for effective informal social control mechanisms.

Informal social controls include influences from parents, neighbors, schools, and religious organizations.
Formal social controls are exercised by criminal justice entities like police, courts, and correctional institutions.

Containment Theory

Developed by Walter Reckless in the 1920s, linking to social disorganization theory by Shaw and McKay.
Containment theory describes the relationship between inner (personal) and outer (societal) containment and its effects on behavior.

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Description

This quiz explores the foundations of Social Control Theory, tracing its origins back to Emile Durkheim and the Chicago School of Sociology. Key concepts such as socialization, delinquency, and the roles of influential theorists are examined to understand how social bonds influence behavior and conformity.