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.
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 Cross-Tradition 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.
Developed By
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.
Self-control theory extends Hirschis social bond account from external bonds to an internalized trait formed in childhood.
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