SOC-3340 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Social Control Theory, Social Control, Homophily
31 Aug 2016
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Social control theory (consensus theory: consensus model assumptions: Groups in society agree about what is right and wrong. Laws reflect the important shared values of society. There is a single moral order in a society: behavior is not relative, impulses towards crime are natural, people are free to commit crime when their bonds to society are weak or broken. Negative impulse towards crime weak bonds crime: hirschi"s control theory - 4 social bonds, attachment: comes through close relationships (parents/teachers/peers) Reactions of crime from people you are close to are always negative: commitment: investment of time/energy in conventional activities/pursuits. Stakes in conformity : crime poses a risk to your investments. The accumulation of goods/reputation/prospects represents society"s insurance policy against crime: involvement: if someone is involved in positive things, they have less time to commit criminal or delinquent acts. Idle hands are the devil"s workshop. : belief in a single moral order.
