A theory developed by Travis Hirschi holding that social bonds encourage conforming behavior and that weak bonds free a person to commit crime, later extended with self-control theory. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Core ClaimSourced to the subject's own accountStrong social bonds to family, school and community prevent crime; weak bonds free a person to offend. 1 Origin YearSourced to the subject's own accountThe year of Hirschi's Causes of Delinquency, which stated the social bond version of the theory. Standing CritiqueSourced to the subject's own accountCritics argue the theory explains conformity more convincingly than it explains the causes of the initial deviant act, and that it underplays structural and economic causes of crime in favor of the strength of an individual's social bonds. 1 Connections
Associated With
Containment theory and Hirschi's social control theory both explain conformity through the strength of controlling bonds rather than through strain or learning.
Source Wikipedia: Walter Reckless
Developed By
Source Wikipedia: Travis Hirschi
Informed
The age-graded theory extends Hirschi's social bond account across the life course, treating adult bonds as capable of changing an established trajectory.
Source SAGE Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory: Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control
Self-control theory extends Hirschis social bond account from external bonds to an internalized trait formed in childhood.
Source Wikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Travis Hirschi
Lead section
He helped to develop the modern version of the social control theory of crime and later the self-control theory of crime.
- Developed By: Travis Hirschi
In Group: Social Control and Self-Control Theories, Lead sentence
Travis Warner Hirschi (April 15, 1935, January 2, 2017) was an American sociologist and an emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Arizona. He helped to develop the modern version of the social control theory of crime and later the self-control theory of crime.
View the SourceWikipedia: Self-Control Theory of Crime
SAGE Encyclopedia of Criminological Theory: Age-Graded Theory of Informal Social Control
SAGE PublicationsInformed: Life-Course Theory of Crime, p. 807View the Source Wikipedia: Walter Reckless
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