Explain the major components of social control theory and Hirschi's social bonding theory

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

According to Reckless, society produces pushes and pulls that move people toward

criminal behavior? however, some people "insulate" themselves from such pressures by

having positive self-esteem and good group cohesion. Reckless suggests that people

refrain from deviance because of inner and outer containments. Inner containments are

things such as self-control, a sense of responsibility, and resistance to diversions. Outer

containments include things like supportive family and friends, reasonable social

expectations, and supervision by others. Those with the strongest containment

mechanisms are able to withstand external pressures that might cause them to

participate in deviant behavior. Hirschi's social control theory is based on the

assumption that deviant behavior is minimized when people have strong bonds that bind

them to families, schools, peers, churches, and other social institutions. Social bonding

theory holds that the probability of deviant behavior increases when a person's ties to

society are weakened or broken. According to Hirschi, social bonding consists of (1)

attachments to other people, (2) commitment to conformity, (3) involvement in

conventional activities, and (4) belief in the legitimacy of conventional values and

norms.