Soc 8300 Criminological Theory
Soc 8300 Criminological Theory
Spring, 2008
Social Control Theories
1. Describe the three different types of informal social control (see especially Akers and Sellers). Provide an example of each.
2. How does Agnew (1991) measure “attachment” and “commitment?” How well do these measures predict delinquency?
3. How is Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory different from Hirschi’s original (1969) theory? How is it similar?
Things to consider:
• In what way is Durkheim a forerunner of modern day control theories?
• Why would containment theory (Reckless) not be considered a “pure” control theory by Travis Hrischi?
• How do Gottfredson and Hirschi portray “criminal behavior (see p. 89 in chapter)?” Is this an accurate portrayal of crime? Do you agree with their contentions?
• Get the gist of Hirischi’s (1969) social bond theory. What kind of control does Hirschi emphasize?
• What is the “cause” of low self-control? How might one critique this?
• What are the policy implications of Hirschi’s bond theory? How is this different from the policy implications of the General Theory (low self-control)?
• Pay attention to the “tautology” issue discussed in Akers & Sellers regarding Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory. What are “behavioral” and “attitudinal” measures of low self-control.
• What is the underlying assumption of all control theories about human nature? How does this compare to deterrence theory? How does it compare to strain or social learning theories?
• Psychologists accuse Gottfredson and Hirschi of “bottling old ideas” and selling it as new wine (or some such thing). Do the elements of self-control as they list them all seem to conceptually hang together? Does it make sense to put them all together under the rubric of “self-control?”
• How Gottfredson and Hirschi’s ideas similar to and different from Felson’s?
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