1. Social Bond Theory Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi Michael Gottfredson

2. Social Bond Theory Travis Hirschi
Social Process Theories
Social Control Theories
Causes of Delinquency (1969)
Social Bond Theory
Attachment
Commitment
Involvement
Belief

3. Social Bond Theory Travis Hirschi
Attachment refers to a person’s sensitivity to and interest in others.

4. Social Bond Theory Travis Hirschi
Commitment involves the time, energy, and effort expended in conventional lines of action, such as getting an education and saving money for the future.

5. Social Bond Theory Travis Hirschi
Heavy involvement in conventional activities leaves little time for illegal behavior.

6. Social Bond Theory Travis Hirschi
People who live in the same social settings often share common moral beliefs; they may adhere to such values as sharing, sensitivity to rights of others, and admiration for the legal code.

8. Testing Social Bond Theory
Hirschi’s Supporting Research
Youths who were strongly attached to their parents were less likely to commit criminal acts.
Commitment to conventional values, such as striving to get a good education and refusing to drink alcohol and “cruise around,” was indicative of conventional behavior.
Youths involved in conventional activity, such as homework, were less likely to engage in criminal behavior.
Youths involved in unconventional behavior, such as smoking and drinking, were more delinquency prone.
Youths who maintained weak and distant relationships with people tended toward delinquency.
Those who shunned unconventional acts were attached to their peers.
Delinquents and nondelinquents shared similar beliefs about society.

9. Testing Social Bond Theory
Opposing Views
Friendship
Not all elements of the bond are equal
Deviant peers and parents
Restricted in scope
Changing bonds
Crime and social bonds

10. Self-Control Theory Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
Latent Trait Theories
General Theory of Crime (GTC)
A General Theory of Crime (1990)
Self-Control Theory

11. Self-Control Theory Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
Differences of Social Bond Theory & Self-control Theory
A General Theory of Crime (1990)
Integration of:
Biosocial
Psychological
Routine activities
Rational Choice Theories

12. Self-Control Theory Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
In GTC Gottfredson and Hirschi consider the criminal offender and the criminal act as separate concepts

14. Self-Control Theory Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
Criticisms
Tautological
Different classes of criminals
Ecological / Individual differences
Racial and gender differences
Moral beliefs
Peer influence
People change
Modest relationship
Cross-cultural differences
Misreads Human nature