Sociology of Delinquency and Control Theories

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What aspect of communities is highlighted as being linked to delinquency by Thrasher, Shaw, and McKay?

Strongly connected family structures

Poor organization of community institutions (correct)

Abundance of recreational activities

High levels of socio-economic integration

What type of controls did Albert Reiss identify as crucial in preventing delinquency?

Legal controls associated with law enforcement

Personal controls internalized by individuals (correct)

Government regulations limiting youth behavior

Physical controls implemented by communities

According to Ivan Nye, what primarily motivates delinquent behavior?

A lack of parental supervision

Peer pressure and societal expectations

The relative costs of alternative benefits (correct)

The immediate rewards of delinquent acts

What significant role does the family play, according to Ivan Nye?

It is the most significant group in developing social controls Signup and view all the answers

What was a key finding of Reiss regarding young males on probation?

Their delinquency correlated with the presence of social and personal controls Signup and view all the answers

How do successful students generally perceive their school experience?

Enriching and rewarding Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes anomic suicide?

A lack of social integration due to rapid changes Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary ways that school affects delinquency?

Through daily experiences impacting self-worth Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to the occurrence of deviance in weak social controls?

Pursuit of aspirations without societal checks Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the relationship between religiosity and delinquency is accurate?

Religiosity showed no correlation with delinquency in early studies Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding of Shaw and McKay regarding crime in Chicago?

Crime rates remained constant despite population changes Signup and view all the answers

What factor is critical for religion to effectively reduce delinquency in a community?

Integration of religious values into everyday life Signup and view all the answers

What methodologically flawed assumption was made in early control theory research?

Crime is exclusively committed by lower-class individuals Signup and view all the answers

According to Stark et al. (1982), what role does a moral community play in relation to religion and delinquency?

It reinforces religious teachings among adherents Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what has led to the development of criminal subcultures in certain neighborhoods?

Failure of neighborhood institutions to provide adequate social control Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT associated with anomic suicide?

Clear moral guidelines Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of school failure on delinquency, according to the content?

It contributes to feelings of rejection and alienation Signup and view all the answers

What explains the strong negative correlation found between religiosity and delinquency in later studies?

Integration of religious influence in the culture Signup and view all the answers

What did Thrasher identify as a location where gangs predominantly formed?

In slums with weak social controls Signup and view all the answers

What implication arises from the ecological fallacy in control theory?

Individual behavior may differ from neighborhood trends Signup and view all the answers

What impact do school experiences have on a child's future life chances?

They can determine access to occupations Signup and view all the answers

What aspect primarily affects a child's development of internal controls within a family?

The degree of family cohesion Signup and view all the answers

According to Hirschi's social control theory, which aspect emphasizes the importance of emotional ties?

Attachment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four aspects of social bonds that Hirschi identified?

Responsibility Signup and view all the answers

What describes a key characteristic of individuals with low self-control according to Gottfredson and Hirschi?

They are impulsive and focus on immediate gratification Signup and view all the answers

How does commitment influence an individual's likelihood of engaging in deviant behavior?

It increases the stakes involved in maintaining conventional success. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of low self-control, as identified by Gottfredson and Hirschi?

Early childhood socialization Signup and view all the answers

What role does involvement in conventional activities play according to Hirschi's theory?

It distracts individuals from deviant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is often a direct consequence of the absence of belief in conventional values?

Increased likelihood of deviance Signup and view all the answers

What primary factor contributes to an individual being less likely to violate community norms?

Low likelihood of associating with deviant peers Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that a lack of ties to conventional society increases the likelihood of associating with deviant peers?

Differential Association Theory Signup and view all the answers

According to control theory, what is the primary focus when explaining crime?

The individual's social relationships with institutions Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects a criticism of control theory by conflict criminologists?

It ignores the influence of political and economic structures. Signup and view all the answers

What has a stronger correlation with delinquency and drug use than social control variables?

Ties to delinquent peers Signup and view all the answers

How does control theory primarily address upper-world crime?

It does not account for those with high stakes in conformity Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can be integrated into a structural perspective according to critics of control theory?

Control variables Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is linked to adolescents who primarily lack ties to conventional individuals?

Increased likelihood of involvement in deviance Signup and view all the answers

What approach does Patterson suggest for addressing criminal behavior in children?

Punishing misdeeds Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT listed as a quality of effective schools?

Large school size Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of social control theories?

Why individuals do not engage in crime Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the social bond, according to Hirschi, pertains to one's attachment to others?

Attachment Signup and view all the answers

How can schools positively impact at-risk students?

Through academic and behavioral support Signup and view all the answers

In the context of strengthening families, effective non-physical punishment helps to address which issue?

Child delinquency Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of disorganized communities according to social control theories?

Weak social institutions Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of the social bond relates to personal dedication to societal norms?

Commitment Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social control theory examines why people do not commit crime.
Human beings are neither innately good nor evil; they have the capacity to commit wrong.
Conformity, not deviance, is the focus.
Key questions include: why don't all people commit deviance? Why do people refrain from deviance? How do social factors bind individuals to social order?
Early social control theories linked crime rates to social structure or social disorganization.
Durkheim (1951) highlighted the importance of social bonds in understanding crime.
Egoistic suicide: A lack of social ties leads individuals to act on personal interests.
Anomic suicide: Occurring when society lacks moral guidance, people lack direction and more likely to deviate.

The earliest theories focused on community-level characteristics that led to crime and deviance.
These factors include: geographical and social breaks in the structure of social organization.
Durkheim, Thrasher, Shaw, and McKay have contributed to these theories.

Reiss differentiated between social and personal controls.
Social control involves ties to social groups.
Personal control is internalized by the individual.
Successful interactions with family and the community are positively associated with less delinquency.
Nye expanded on Reiss, using self-reported data.
His theory highlights the relative costs of alternative behaviors in relation to deviance.
Nye emphasized the significance of family relationships (e.g., strength of family relationships, discipline,) for social control.

Hirschi highlights four aspects of the social bond that restrain deviant behavior:
Attachment: Bonds to others
Commitment: Degree to which one pursues conventional goals
Involvement: Involvement in conventional activities
Belief: Belief in conventional values
Individuals with weaker social bonds are more prone to deviance.

Self-Control: The General Theory of Crime

Gottfredson and Hirschi developed this theory in 1990.
People with low self-control are more prone to risky behaviors and crime, particularly when opportunities arise.
Low self-control is linked to childhood socialization, involving poor relationships or poor parenting.
This theory argues that low self-control persist throughout one's life.

Family Relationships

Family relationships are strongly related to delinquency. Strong, warm relationships are associated with low delinquency rates.
Mutual rejection and hostility are common in families with delinquents.
Parental supervision and clear discipline are crucial for restraining delinquency. Children with consistent discipline are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior.
Strong parental role models can serve as a deterrent to delinquency. However, there might be associations between parent and child criminality due to factors like poverty or bad parenting.

Schooling

Schools play a crucial role in socialization and delinquency.
Successful school experiences promote conventional behavior through rewards and a stake in conformity.
School failure can contribute to delinquency through:
Lack of opportunity (e.g., educational qualifications).
Daily struggles and challenges related to school.
School experiences with regards to socialization can lead to problems.

Religion

Early studies showed a modest negative relationship between religiosity and criminality.
Religiosity, or involvement in religious activities, is not strongly associated with delinquency in particular.
Religion has the greatest influence on behavior in very religious communities.
Stark et al (1982): Religious influences permeate the community and reinforce norms, making deviance costlier.

How does social control theory explain "upper-world" crime? (control theory does not appear to explain white-collar crime and crime committed by individuals with strong social bonds)
Does everyone have the same motivation to deviate? (Social control theory assumes motivation for deviance is natural. However, factors like ties to delinquent peers might be more relevant.)
The Role of Delinquent Peers: Combining differential association and control theory leads to a better explanation of crime and delinquency.

Issues with Control Theory

Critics argue that control theory ignores political and economic structures that influence crime.
However, control variables can be included in structural perspectives.

Policy Implications

Family: Strengthening family relationships, emphasizing parental love, care, and effective discipline to help children.
Schools: Implementing effective interventions in schools to foster social bonds and pro-social behavior.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores key concepts in sociology related to delinquency, focusing on the insights of Thrasher, Shaw, McKay, Reiss, and Nye. It covers the influence of community, family, social controls, and schools on delinquent behavior as well as the role of religiosity in mitigating deviance. Test your understanding of these critical theories in the study of delinquency.