Control Theories Informal Social Control

Assumptions about human nature Humans are hedonistic, self-serving beings We are “inclined” towards deviance from birth  “natural motivation”  no “positive” motivation required  “variation in motivations toward deviance” Compare to Strain or Social Learning Theory  Sutherland: All crime is learned, not invented  Strain: Crime result of frustration/anger

If we are inclined toward deviance... Key Question: Why aren’t most of us deviant?  Hirschi: “There is much evidence that we would be if we dared.” Answer: Informal Social Control Deterrence Answer: Fear of Formal Punishment

Are control theories “different?” Akers  They don’t try to explain “non-crime” or conformity  Different sides of the same coin Control Theorists  Completely different assumptions about human nature and “motivation” towards crime

Ivan Nye (1958) Identified 3 types of informal control 1. Direct Controls 2. Indirect Controls 3. Internal Controls

Walter Reckless: Containment Theory Pushes and Pulls poverty, anger,delinquent subculture Outer Containment parents/school supervision DELINQUENCY OUT HERE !!!!!! Inner (Good self concept) Containment

Enter Travis Hirschi Social Bond Theory

The “BOOK” Causes of Delinquency (1969)  Was an attack on other theories (strain and social learning) as much as a statement of his theory  Self-report data (CA high schools)  Measures from “competing theories” This book was the first of its kind!

Hirschi’s Criticisms of Past Theory 1. A “pure” control theory needs no or external “motivation” to explain crime.  Exclude “pushes and pulls” from control theory  Other theories present an “over-socialized” human 2. Internal control is too “subjective” and nearly impossible to measure.  Exclude “conscience, self-concept, or self-control”  Subsumed under “Attachment”

Social Bond Theory “ Bond” to society emphasizes Indirect Control  Direct controls (punishment, reinforcement) less important because delinquency occurs when out of parents’ reach (adolescence). Elements of the “bond”  Attachment  Commitment (Elements of the social bond  Involvement are all related to each other)  Belief

Attachment The “emotional bond” Sensitivity towards others (especially parents)  Measured as Identification with and emulation of parents Concern with teacher’s opinion of oneself

Commitment The “rational bond”  One’s “stake in conformity”  Social Capital  Measures: academic achievement grades test scores educational aspirations

Involvement “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” Involvement in conventional activity  Simply less time for deviance  Measures: time playing basketball, baby-sitting, doing homework….

Belief Belief in the validity of the law  Hold values consistent with the law  Measures Neutralizations (from Sykes/Matza) Belief in the value of education Respect for police and the law

How can “neutralizations” support both social learning theory and control theory? Neutralizations as a “Pirate” variable 1. Sutherland/Akers: “definitions” that motivate delinquency 2. Hirschi: indicator of weak moral beliefs 3. Bandura: disengagement of cognitive self- evaluation (can be negative reinforcement)

Research on Bonds Hirschi’s own research supportive  But, couldn’t explain delinquent peers So, “birds of a feather” explanation Subsequent research  Attachment, commitment, beliefs are related Relationships are moderate to weak Causal ordering?

Delinquent Peers and Parents Hirschi: Any bonding insulates a person from delinquency  Even if the person you bond to is delinquent  Relationships among delinquents as “cold and brittle” Akers: Bonding to delinquent persons increases delinquency  Who’s right? AKERS

Gerald Patterson Psychologist  Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC)  1982 “Coercion Theory”  1992 “Social- Interactional Approach”  Very Applied: Work with families with young, antisocial boys.

Patterson’s Social-Interactional Model Family Structure SES Difficult Infant High Crime Neighborhood Divorce/Stress Unskilled Grandparents Parental Efficacy Monitor Recognize Discipline R + Problem Solving (pro)/antisocial behavior Social (in)competence Context Family Management Outcomes

Later in the Theory Antisocial Child Affects the Environment  Peer Rejection  Poor Academic Performance  Parental Rejection This leads to further problems  Deviant Peer Group  School Failure  Delinquency

Is Patterson a “control” theorist, or a “social learning” theorist? Social Learning  Oregon social learning center  Emphasizes “reinforcement” of prosocial behavior  Later in theory emphasizes “delinquent peers”  Parents learn “parenting skills” from their parents Control Theorist  “Direct control”  Assumption about children?