control theories meaning of crime

CJUS 411CJUS 411

Control TheoriesControl Theories

Meaning of CrimeMeaning of Crime


Why do most people Why do most people notnot commit commit crime?crime? This chapter looks at juveniles, in This chapter looks at juveniles, in

particular, but could help us figure it particular, but could help us figure it out.out.


Early theoriesEarly theories Reiss (1951) looked at male, white juvenile Reiss (1951) looked at male, white juvenile

probationers, between the ages of 11 and 17. probationers, between the ages of 11 and 17. Wanted to figure out if controls related to Wanted to figure out if controls related to revocation of probation.revocation of probation.

What did he find?What did he find? Revocation was related to psychiatric diagnosis and psychiatric Revocation was related to psychiatric diagnosis and psychiatric

therapytherapy Revocation was more likely when juveniles did not regularly attend Revocation was more likely when juveniles did not regularly attend

school and described as having “behavioral problems”school and described as having “behavioral problems” Believed these correlations were proof that juveniles accepted the Believed these correlations were proof that juveniles accepted the

control of these institutionscontrol of these institutions


Toby (1957) – “Stakes in Conformity”Toby (1957) – “Stakes in Conformity” How much a person has to lose when he How much a person has to lose when he

or she breaks the lawor she breaks the law All youths are tempted, but some have All youths are tempted, but some have

more to risk than othersmore to risk than others There’s also the temptation toward There’s also the temptation toward

delinquency from peersdelinquency from peers Youths in the suburbs are less likely to have Youths in the suburbs are less likely to have

this issue than urban youththis issue than urban youth


Toby (continued)Toby (continued) Looked at how well students did in schoolLooked at how well students did in school

Believed the foundation of school achievement Believed the foundation of school achievement was laid in the homewas laid in the home

Nye (1959)Nye (1959) Most delinquent behavior is the result of Most delinquent behavior is the result of

insufficient social control, andinsufficient social control, and Delinquency was rarely caused by positive Delinquency was rarely caused by positive

factorsfactors What What social controlssocial controls did Nye focus on? (pg 205) did Nye focus on? (pg 205)


Nye (cont)Nye (cont) 780 boys and girls in 9780 boys and girls in 9thth through 12 through 12thth

grades in three different Washington townsgrades in three different Washington towns Looked at family life and Looked at family life and sevenseven items that were intended to items that were intended to

measure delinquencymeasure delinquency

Found that the youth in the Found that the youth in the most most delinquentdelinquent group were group were

Given complete freedom Given complete freedom oror nono freedom at all by their families freedom at all by their families Larger sums of money available to themLarger sums of money available to them Reject their parents and disapproved of their appearanceReject their parents and disapproved of their appearance Describe their parents as moody, nervous, etc (pg 205)Describe their parents as moody, nervous, etc (pg 205)


Nye (cont)Nye (cont) Found that all of these factors were Found that all of these factors were

consistent with control theoriesconsistent with control theories Criticisms – Poor sampling!Criticisms – Poor sampling! ““Most delinquent” group would be Most delinquent” group would be

considered barely delinquent by most considered barely delinquent by most scholarsscholars


Matza – Delinquency and DriftMatza – Delinquency and Drift Felt that most theories of delinquency Felt that most theories of delinquency

looked at looked at constraintconstraint and and differentationdifferentation (delinquents are different than non-(delinquents are different than non-delinquents and that difference causes delinquents and that difference causes them to commit delinquent acts)them to commit delinquent acts)

If you believe these theories, delinquent If you believe these theories, delinquent youth should be committing delinquent youth should be committing delinquent acts ALL THE TIMEacts ALL THE TIME


Delinquency and Drift (cont)Delinquency and Drift (cont) Also, these theories don’t account for Also, these theories don’t account for whywhy most most

delinquent youth age out of their behaviordelinquent youth age out of their behavior

So, what is Drift?So, what is Drift? ““Occurs in areas of the social structure in which control has Occurs in areas of the social structure in which control has

been loosened, free the delinquent to respond to whatever been loosened, free the delinquent to respond to whatever conventional or criminal forces happen to come along” (pg conventional or criminal forces happen to come along” (pg 207)207)

What this means is that most delinquents are not What this means is that most delinquents are not committed or compulsive (as compared to other theories), committed or compulsive (as compared to other theories), but rather they’re driftersbut rather they’re drifters


Delinquency and Drift (cont)Delinquency and Drift (cont) They’re not committed to delinquent valuesThey’re not committed to delinquent values They know their behavior is morally wrong, They know their behavior is morally wrong,

but occurs for specific reasons (extenuating but occurs for specific reasons (extenuating circumstances), which makes them guiltlesscircumstances), which makes them guiltless

Matza said delinquents don’t reject Matza said delinquents don’t reject conventional values, however, they conventional values, however, they neutralizeneutralize them to meet their circumstancesthem to meet their circumstances


Delinquency and Drift (cont)Delinquency and Drift (cont) Positive causation of delinquency --- e.g. Positive causation of delinquency --- e.g.

the youth has NO choicethe youth has NO choice Legalism --- the youth may know that he Legalism --- the youth may know that he

did something wrong, but feels that it did something wrong, but feels that it may be proven beyond a reasonable may be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Even if it is proven, the youth doubt. Even if it is proven, the youth may feel they’re being treated unfairlymay feel they’re being treated unfairly

Control TheoriesControl Theories Hirschi (1969) Social ControlHirschi (1969) Social Control

Bonds!Bonds! Youth who are tightly bonded to social groups (e.g. family, Youth who are tightly bonded to social groups (e.g. family,

school, etc.) are less likely to commit delinquent actsschool, etc.) are less likely to commit delinquent acts Attachment - internalization of valuesAttachment - internalization of values Commitment – investment in conventional societyCommitment – investment in conventional society Involvement – conventional activitiesInvolvement – conventional activities Belief – variation in the extend to which people believe Belief – variation in the extend to which people believe

they should obey the rulesthey should obey the rules Matza argued that delinquent youth have conventional Matza argued that delinquent youth have conventional

beliefs, but neutralize them. Hirschi argues that delinquent beliefs, but neutralize them. Hirschi argues that delinquent youth are free from these constraints to begin with.youth are free from these constraints to begin with.


Hirschi (cont)Hirschi (cont) Methods: 4,000 junior/senior high Methods: 4,000 junior/senior high

school students in the San Francisco school students in the San Francisco areaarea

Items related to family, school and peersItems related to family, school and peers Items related to delinquencyItems related to delinquency Also used school records and police Also used school records and police

records as datarecords as data


Hirschi (cont)Hirschi (cont) WHAT DID HE FIND?WHAT DID HE FIND?

No relationship between delinquency between reported delinquent No relationship between delinquency between reported delinquent acts and social class, except that the youth from the poorest families acts and social class, except that the youth from the poorest families were more likely to be delinquentwere more likely to be delinquent

Minimal relationship with race in the self-reporting of delinquencyMinimal relationship with race in the self-reporting of delinquency Boys more attached to their parents were less likely to be delinquentBoys more attached to their parents were less likely to be delinquent Youth who reported committing more delinquent acts were more Youth who reported committing more delinquent acts were more

likely to struggle in schoollikely to struggle in school Boys who reported committing more delinquent acts were less Boys who reported committing more delinquent acts were less

attached to their peers than boys who committed fewer delinquent attached to their peers than boys who committed fewer delinquent actsacts

Youths with large stakes in conformity are unlikely to have Youths with large stakes in conformity are unlikely to have delinquent friendsdelinquent friends


Hirschi (cont)Hirschi (cont) Found that educational and occupational Found that educational and occupational

opportunities and aspirations of delinquents were opportunities and aspirations of delinquents were lower than their non-delinquent counterpartslower than their non-delinquent counterparts

Delinquent activities and agreement with this Delinquent activities and agreement with this statement – “It is alright to get around the law if statement – “It is alright to get around the law if you can get away with it.”you can get away with it.”

Hirschi determined that the class of the father Hirschi determined that the class of the father likely doesn’t matter, but the class of the child likely doesn’t matter, but the class of the child does (e.g. middle class values)does (e.g. middle class values)


Critique:Critique: Support for attachment and commitmentSupport for attachment and commitment Some support for beliefSome support for belief Very little, if any, support for involvementVery little, if any, support for involvement

Another problem: The idea of criminality and Another problem: The idea of criminality and delinquency consisting of naturally motivated delinquency consisting of naturally motivated behaviors is easy to understand when it comes to behaviors is easy to understand when it comes to minor offenses (e.g. shoplifting), but not as easy minor offenses (e.g. shoplifting), but not as easy with violent acts. How is battery, sexual assault, or with violent acts. How is battery, sexual assault, or homicide fun?homicide fun?


General Theory of CrimeGeneral Theory of Crime Low self-controlLow self-control Self-control is individualSelf-control is individual Focus on events of early childhood, well Focus on events of early childhood, well

before a child is delinquentbefore a child is delinquent


General Theory (cont)General Theory (cont) Assertions about the characteristics of Assertions about the characteristics of

“ordinary crimes”“ordinary crimes” Simple and immediate gratificationSimple and immediate gratification Offenders will be impulsive, physical, risk-Offenders will be impulsive, physical, risk-

taking, short-sighted, and non-verbaltaking, short-sighted, and non-verbal The stable construct – LOW SELF CONTROLThe stable construct – LOW SELF CONTROL Ineffective child-rearing is the most Ineffective child-rearing is the most

important contributor to low self-controlimportant contributor to low self-control


General Theory (cont)General Theory (cont) Low self-control explains relationships – youth Low self-control explains relationships – youth

with low self-control tend to form peer groups with low self-control tend to form peer groups with like youthwith like youth

AssessmentAssessment Theory has crossed race, gender, and Theory has crossed race, gender, and

nationality linesnationality lines Baron’s studyBaron’s study Welch’s studyWelch’s study

Is self-control stable by 8 or 10 years of age?Is self-control stable by 8 or 10 years of age?


General Theory (cont)General Theory (cont) What about child-rearing?What about child-rearing?

Three aspects: monitoring and tracking, recognizing Three aspects: monitoring and tracking, recognizing deviant behavior, and consistently and proportionately deviant behavior, and consistently and proportionately punishing this behaviorpunishing this behavior

Mixed evidenceMixed evidence Differential OpportunityDifferential Opportunity

Under-developed part of this theoryUnder-developed part of this theory Bottom line – Hirschi says self-control “becomes the Bottom line – Hirschi says self-control “becomes the

tendency to consider the full range of potential costs of a tendency to consider the full range of potential costs of a particular act,” and that “social control and self-control are particular act,” and that “social control and self-control are

the same thingthe same thing.”.”


General Theory (cont)General Theory (cont) This is an important theory, but doesn’t This is an important theory, but doesn’t

explain muchexplain much


Policy Implications of Control TheoriesPolicy Implications of Control Theories Reduction of juvenile delinquencyReduction of juvenile delinquency

Enforcement of curfewEnforcement of curfew After-school activitiesAfter-school activities Job programsJob programs Moral education programsMoral education programs

Most effective the younger the childMost effective the younger the child Policies encouraging two-parent familiesPolicies encouraging two-parent families Programs that restrict the unsupervised activities of teensPrograms that restrict the unsupervised activities of teens

Believed that programs for adult offenders (deter, Believed that programs for adult offenders (deter, rehab, or incapacitation) should be abandonedrehab, or incapacitation) should be abandoned


Why do people commit crime? What Why do people commit crime? What meaning to they attach to their criminal meaning to they attach to their criminal acts?acts? Summary of Summary of Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionism (pg 226)(pg 226)

Five approachesFive approaches Labeling theory – label of a criminalLabeling theory – label of a criminal General framework – mean of crimes in terms of “moral and General framework – mean of crimes in terms of “moral and

sensuous” projectssensuous” projects Situational meaning of crime – why do good people become evil?Situational meaning of crime – why do good people become evil? Meaning of crime in larger society – what becomes a crime?Meaning of crime in larger society – what becomes a crime? Meaning of crime by the State – when is someone or something Meaning of crime by the State – when is someone or something

defined as “criminal?”defined as “criminal?”


LabelingLabeling Self-imageSelf-image How do we define ourselves?How do we define ourselves? Labeled bad, become bad --- when someone Labeled bad, become bad --- when someone

labels the youth’s behavior as bad, and reacts labels the youth’s behavior as bad, and reacts negatively, transforms the youth’s self-image negatively, transforms the youth’s self-image into a negative oneinto a negative one

But, research shows that most criminals don’t But, research shows that most criminals don’t view themselves as criminals?view themselves as criminals?

Techniques of Neutralization (pg 228)Techniques of Neutralization (pg 228)


Labeling (cont)Labeling (cont) ““It is a truism that every person arrested for crime It is a truism that every person arrested for crime

perceives himself as innocent, for there are always perceives himself as innocent, for there are always circumstances which to him seem to place his circumstances which to him seem to place his action outside the appropriate definition of the action outside the appropriate definition of the crime.” (Chambliss and Seidman) crime.” (Chambliss and Seidman)

There’s a reason he/she did it.There’s a reason he/she did it.

Shoplifting example (pg 229)Shoplifting example (pg 229) Once the criminal label is applied, it Once the criminal label is applied, it

overrides all other labels.overrides all other labels. What do you think?What do you think?


Labeling (cont)Labeling (cont) Criticisms:Criticisms:

1.1. Theorists overemphasize the importance official Theorists overemphasize the importance official labeling can havelabeling can have

2.2. Offender resists the label for as long as possibleOffender resists the label for as long as possible

3.3. Labeling has more impact on the law-abiding Labeling has more impact on the law-abiding person than the actual punishmentperson than the actual punishment

Matseuda (1996)Matseuda (1996) (pg 231)(pg 231)


Meaning of CrimeMeaning of Crime Seductions of CrimeSeductions of Crime

Traditional criminologists have used Traditional criminologists have used background variables (race, class, gender)background variables (race, class, gender)

Katz argued that it’s more important to Katz argued that it’s more important to understand what it feels like to commit a crimeunderstand what it feels like to commit a crime

Looked at passion murders, adolescent Looked at passion murders, adolescent property crime, gang violence, persistent property crime, gang violence, persistent robbery, and cold-blooded murderrobbery, and cold-blooded murder

What did he find?What did he find?


Situational Meaning of CrimeSituational Meaning of Crime Zimbardo’s Lucifer EffectZimbardo’s Lucifer Effect Why do seemingly law-abiding people take Why do seemingly law-abiding people take

active roles in committing violent acts?active roles in committing violent acts? The line between good people and bad people The line between good people and bad people

isn’t thick…isn’t thick… Stanford Prison StudyStanford Prison Study Milgram’s study on authorityMilgram’s study on authority

Zimbardo hoped if all people are capable of evil, all Zimbardo hoped if all people are capable of evil, all people should be capable of goodpeople should be capable of good

LINKSLINKS

Milgram’s Authority Experiment PT I Milgram’s Authority Experiment PT II Migram’s Authority Experiment PT III


Meaning of crime to societyMeaning of crime to society Crime is created by passing lawsCrime is created by passing laws Simplifies “good” and “evil” so that Simplifies “good” and “evil” so that

everyone can understand what these everyone can understand what these behaviors arebehaviors are

Campaigns to define and suppress Campaigns to define and suppress deviancedeviance

What does this mean?What does this mean?


State Power and the Meaning of State Power and the Meaning of CrimeCrime Focus on the social reaction to deviance Focus on the social reaction to deviance

and the power of the reacting groupsand the power of the reacting groups What does this mean?What does this mean?

control theories meaning of crime

Education

delinquent group

delinquent behavior

delinquent valuesthey

delinquent actsif

delinquent youth age

reported delinquent

fewer delinquent actsyouths

social class