Discuss Hirschi’s social bond theory (1969).

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

His theory focused on four criteria, or bonds, that prevent people from acting on potential criminological impulses or desires. He identified these bonds as (1) attachment, (2) commitment, (3) involvement, and (4) belief. Attachment refers to the bond that people have with family, friends, and social institutions (such as government, education, and religion) that may serve as an informal control against criminality. Hirschi posited that people refrain from criminal behavior as a result of these attachments as they do not want to disappoint people in their lives. For example, youth who have positive attachments to parents or peers may limit their delinquent behavior because they do not want to disappoint these important relationships. The second concept, commitment, refers to the investment that an individual has to the normative values of society. In many ways, the concept of commitment embodies the spirit of rational choice perspectives. For example, if one is committed to obtaining a college degree, then a violation of the law might limit one’s ability to achieve that goal. As a result, one might decide not to engage in the illegal behavior out of fear of jeopardizing one’s future. Involvement refers to the level at which one might participate in conventional activities such as studying or playing sports. The idea behind involvement is that youth who are more involved in these sorts of activities are less likely to engage in delinquent activities. Belief refers to a general acceptance of the rules of society “the less a person believes he should obey the rules, the more likely he is to violate them.”