Critically explain Hirschi's social bonding theory (25)

Introduction

Hirschi's social bonding theory is a control process, which forms part of social positivism. Hirschi's social bonding attributes crime and delinquency to social variables such as family structure, education and peer groups. The social bonding theory shares the basic thinking with other social control theories, such as that delinquency and crime are unavoidable, it is necessary to explain why people obey rules and that essential components of any social control theory lies in identifying factors preventing people from engaging in delinquency or crime.

Definitions

Social bonding theory – social control theory focusing on a persons' bonds to others.

Social bond – Ties that people has to institutions and processes of society. This includes commitment, attachment, involvement and belief.

Contents/body

The assumptions of social bonding include self-preservation as well as controlled and regulated human behaviour. Society's rules and regulations constitute a moral order, which consists of various elements which are present to varying degrees. Elements include; attachment to people and institutions, commitment or investment in conventional society, involvement in conventional activities and belief in social values. A person bond through socialization and social institutions.

Attachment is important to form conformity. Someone who is part of conformity will care about what her/his parents think about them. People with commitments will have more to lose, and thus will refrain from criminality more than individuals with no commitments or attachments.

Involvement refers to amount of activity, time and energy available for unconventional and conventional behaviours. Those who are more involved in conventional activities have less time to become involved in delinquent behaviour and crime. Belief refers to recognition of society's rules and regulations. A person with this belief respects the rules and regulations and feels morally inclined or obligated to follow them.

Various advantages of this theory include; amenability to empirical examinations, valuable insight into delinquency and increasing research to develop integrated theories of delinquent behaviour.

Conclusion

Hirschi states however that strength of this bond varies, and that we need to account for this. Studies have shown that drug abusers have greater attachment to their friends, than non-users.

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Social bonding (25) exam prep