SOCIOL 2C06 Study Guide - Binge Drinking, Church Attendance, Travis Hirschi
9 Apr 2013
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Social control theory: basic assumptions of social control theories i. - external controls taking the form of punishments for deviant behavior ii. - internal controls established by the socialization process. Social control theorists ask the following sorts of questions: i. - does existence of rules guarantee peaceful existence of the group? ii. - who is to ensure compliance with such rules. They are interested in learning why people conform to norms. Believed that belief systems, not specific laws, guide what individuals do. Belief: the moral concept of right and wrong. Social control theorists maintain that all people have the potential to violate the law and that modern society presents many opportunities for illegal activity: early versions of containment theory. Early versions of control theory speculated that deviance and criminality was a product of weak self-concept and poor self-esteem: albert reiss. Described delinquents as having weak egos and lacking the self-control to produce conforming behavior: walter reckless" containment theory.
