Biography Date of Birth: April 15, 1935 in Rockville Utah Occupation: American criminologist Education: received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley (1968) taught at several universities before joining the faculty of the University of Arizona (1981). University of California Berkeley University of Arizona

Crimininological Perspective In criminology, Social Control Theory as represented in the work of Travis Hirschi fits into the Positivist School, Neo-Classical School, and, later, Right Realism. It proposes that exploiting the process of socialization and social learning builds self-control and reduces the inclination to indulge in behaviour recognized as antisocial. It was derived from Functionalist theories of crime and Ivan Nye (1958) proposed that there are four types of control: Direct: by which punishment is threatened or applied for wrongful behaviour, and compliance is rewarded by parents, family, and authority figures. Internal: by which a youth refrains from delinquency through the conscience or superego. Indirect: by identification with those who influence behaviour, say because his or her delinquent act might cause pain and disappointment to parents and others with whom he or she has close relationships. Control through needs satisfaction, i.e. if all an individual's needs are met, there is no point in criminal activity. Social Control Theory (later also called Social Bonding Theory) proposes that people's relationships, commitments, values, norms, and beliefs encourage them not to break the law. Thus, if moral codes are internalized and individuals are tied into, and have a stake in their wider community, they will voluntarily limit their propensity to commit deviant acts. The theory seeks to understand the ways in which it is possible to reduce the likelihood of criminality developing in individuals. It does not consider motivational issues, simply stating that human beings may choose to engage in a wide range of activities, unless the range is limited by the processes of socialization and social learning. This derives from a Hobbesian view of human nature as represented in Leviathan, i.e. that all choices are constrained by implicit social contracts, agreements and arrangements among people. Thus, morality is created in the construction of social order, assigning costs and consequences to certain choices and defining some as evil, immoral and/or illegal!

Works Cited Brown, Stephen, Finn-Aage Esbensen, and Gilbert Geis. Criminology: Explaining Crime and Its Context. Newark, NJ: Anderson, 2007. 3-614. Hirschi, Travis, and Michael Gottfredson. "A General Theory of Crime." Classics of Criminology. Ed. Joseph Jacoby. Long Grove, IL: Waveland P, Inc, 2004. 1-567. Hirschi, Travis. "Control Theory of Delinquency." Classics of Criminology. Ed. Joseph Jacoby. Long Grove, IL: Waveland P Inc, 2004. 1-567.

Contributions to Criminal Jusitce Social Bonding Theory Although Travis Hirschi's Causes of Delinquency (1969) was a landmark book, contrasting with Strain Theory (see anomie and the work of Robert King Merton) and Conflict Theory. In particular, Hirschi challenged Differential Association Theory (Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey) on the impact of delinquent peers on delinquency. He proposed that delinquent peers would have no direct effect on delinquency when social bonds inhibiting delinquency were taken into account. He argued that similarly unattached youth drifted together into delinquent groups because weak social bonds failed to prevent both association with delinquents and delinquency itself. The groups that could strengthen the bonds were family, school, peers, religious institutions, etc. The social bond had four elements: Attachment to parents, peers, or school Commitment to conventional lines of action Involvement in conventional activities Belief in a common value Attachment refers to a person's sensitivity to and interest in others. Commitment involves the time, energy, and effort expended in conventional lines of action, such as getting an education and saving money for the future. Heavy involvement in conventional activities leaves little time for illegal behavior 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 Bonding Theory Hirschi's Supporting Research 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

Main Theories Social Bonding Theory Social Control Theory (with Michael Gottfredson): Based on a general theory of crime. Integration of: Biosocial, Psychological, Routine activities, Rational Choice Theories Critcisms Failure to recognize casual order: which came first? Hirschi argues that weak attachements lead to delinquency however, it could be aruged that delinquent behavior leads to weakened attachments Critics also argue that control theory "neglects the origion of social bonds and their varying strength" (Brown et al 351). "Common sense" perspective; policy impact is less direct than that of strain theories Willem Schinkel: "people are not constrained by morality, but freed by moral choices. The choices cannot be arbitrarily as in social bond theory" (Brown et al 352)