control theory

• can be used to support functionalism as it assumes that society is based in value consensus and social solidarity
• looks at why people don’t commit crime
• believe that people are less likely to commit crimes as they have strong social bonds with others who encourage them to exercise self control and tie them to conformity

  • if bonds are weak, people turn to crime
• hirschi- types of bonds

  belief - sharing moral beliefs, norms, values = follows laws to reinforce it
• hirschi - types of bonds

  attachment - people are committed to conventional activities = must conform
• hirschi - types of bonds

  commitment - people are committed to each other and society = avoids crime
• hirschi - types of bonds

  involvement - people are involved with different groups = keeps then bust and no opportunity for crime
• herschi and gottfredson

  suggested that social bonds were not enough to explain why some people don’t commit crime and that opportunity to commit crime also matters
• X doesn't explain why some people have weaker/stronger bonds than others
• X ignores various types of crime and deviance
• X assumes that individuals are all naturally bad
• X can you have tight social bonds and still be deviant - labelling theory?

  eg. mafia, gangs
• X marxists - its unfair to blame marginalised people - they are victims of an unfair society which does not provide sufficient opportunities for work