Discuss Laub and Sampson's concept of social capital, provide an example of social capital. Explain your view of this concept

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Laub and Sampson view the development of social capital as essential for desistance.
• Social scientists recognize that people build social capital—positive relations with individuals and institutions that are life sustaining. In the same manner that building financial capital improves the chances for personal success, building social capital supports conventional behavior and inhibits deviant behavior.
• A successful career inhibits delinquency by creating a stake in conformity.
• The relationship is reciprocal. If kids are chosen by teachers as being a top student, they return the favor by doing the best job in class possible; if they are chosen as spouses, they blossom into devoted partners.
• In contrast, people who fail to accumulate social capital are more prone to commit delinquent acts.
• The fact that social capital influences the trajectory of a delinquent career underscores the life-course view that events that occur in later adolescence and adulthood do in fact influence behavior choices. Life events that occur in adulthood can help either terminate or sustain deviant careers.
• Student view will vary.