Control Theory

• Control Theory


  Control theories try to explain why people do not commit crimes. They support the view that people require nurturing in order to develop attachments or bonds that are key in producing internal controls, such as conscience. According to this view, crime is the result of insufficient attachment and commitment to others.
• Walter C. Reckless


  Reckless developed one version of control theory, known as containment. He argued that we can resist committing crimes due to inner and outer containment:

  • Inner containment comes from upbringing and particularly the influence from our family.
  • Outer containment refers to the influence of social groups, including the laws of the society in which we live.
  • A combination of inter psychological containments and external social containments prevents people from deviating from social norms and committing crimes.
• Travis Hirschi 


  Hirschi believed that people must form social bonds to prevent criminal behaviour. He stated there are 4 bonds, namely attachment, commitment, involvement and belief, and these must be properly formed to prevent a person having a propensity to commit crime.
• Travis Hirschi


  Hirschi's research claimed that positive attachment to parents, school and a peer group was important to promote pro-social behaviour. In addition, commitment to accomplishing future positive goals such as a good job and a nice house etc. was needed. Alongside these an involvement with some social activity such as playing in a sports team or belonging to a community group is needed to prevent criminal activity. Finally what is also needed to ensure people conform to society's rules is a belief society's values such as honesty and believing committing crime is wrong.