Control theory

• control theory: reasons for abiding by the law
• Hirschi’s control theory: believes that we don’t commit crime due to our strong bonds to society

  believes these come in four elements:

  • attachment - having a positive attachment to parents, school, peers etc prevents us from committing crime (we don’t want them to think bad of us)
  • commitment - having ambitions to reach positive goals e.g.: good job encourages us to abide by the law (if we commit crime, we won’t reach those goals)
  • Involvement - being involved in social activities e.g.: sports teams deters us from crime
  • beliefs - having a belief in society’s values and believing crime is wrong
• Reckless: we don’t commit crime because of internal psychological containment and external social containment
• internal containment: upbringing and family
• external containment: social groups and government laws