1. No category

Social Bond Theory
Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi
Michael Gottfredson
Social Bond Theory
Travis Hirschi
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Social Process Theories
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Social Control Theories
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Causes of Delinquency (1969)
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Social Bond Theory
 Attachment
 Commitment
 Involvement
 Belief
Social Bond Theory
Travis Hirschi
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Attachment refers to a person’s sensitivity
to and interest in others.
Social Bond Theory
Travis Hirschi
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Commitment involves the time, energy, and
effort expended in conventional lines of
action, such as getting an education and
saving money for the future.
Social Bond Theory
Travis Hirschi
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Heavy involvement in conventional activities
leaves little time for illegal behavior.
Social Bond Theory
Travis Hirschi
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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.
Testing Social Bond Theory
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Hirschi’s Supporting Research
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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.
Testing Social Bond Theory
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Opposing Views
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Friendship
Not all elements of the bond are equal
Deviant peers and parents
Restricted in scope
Changing bonds
Crime and social bonds
Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
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Latent Trait Theories
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General Theory of Crime (GTC)
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A General Theory of Crime (1990)
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Self-Control Theory
Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
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Differences of Social Bond Theory & Self-control
Theory
A General Theory of Crime (1990)
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Integration of:
 Biosocial
 Psychological
 Routine activities
 Rational Choice Theories
Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
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In GTC Gottfredson and Hirschi consider the
criminal offender and the criminal act as
separate concepts
Self-Control Theory
Travis Hirschi & Michael Gottfredson
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Criticisms
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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