If you order your custom term paper from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society paper right on time.
Out staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society paper at affordable prices!
Travis Hirschi's social control theory assumes that delinquent acts result when an individual's bond to society is weak or broken. The assumption that all people are capable of committing crimes, and would do so if left to their own devices, is the backbone of social control theories. These theories see a delinquent person as relatively free of intimate attachments, the aspirations, and the moral beliefs that bind most people to a life within the law. However, they do not explain why individuals engage in criminal acts, but rather why individuals choose to conform to conventional norms. Conventional norms for example, can be illustrated through the decision of an individual's choice on attending college.
Social control is often seen as a representation of conformity, which leads to the convention of norms. Others see social control as a broad representation of regulated mechanisms placed upon society's members. In other words, social control regards what is to be considered deviant, violations of the law, right or wrong. Social control mechanisms can be adopted as laws, norms, mores, ethics, etiquette, and customs, which all control and thus define behavior.
Hirschi's first assumption was that everyone has potential to become delinquent and criminal, thus it is social controls, not moral values, which maintain law and order. Without controls, he argues, one is free to commit criminal acts (4). In 16 Travis Hirschi presented a social bond theory, which promoted socialization and conformity. The theory postulates four inhibitory conditions (1) attachment to conventional persons, () commitment to conventional goals, () involvement in conventional activities, and (4) beliefs in conventional norms (Gibbs 146).
The first bond, attachment, refers to one's interest in others. One's acceptance of social norms and the development of social consciousness depend on attachment for other human beings. Hirschi views parents, schools, and peers as important social institutions for a person (Hirschi 7).
Buy cheap social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society term paper
While examining an individual's attachment to their parents, Hirschi found that individuals who have meaningful relationships with their parents are less likely to commit delinquent acts. The amount of time a child and parent spend together is extremely important, including intimacy in conversation and identification that may exist between parent and child. This strong bond between parent and child helps refrain from involvement in delinquent acts because of the consequences they would face as a result, as well as putting their relationship with their parents in jeopardy (Hirschi 7).
While examining the bond with school, Hirschi found that an inability to do well in school is linked with delinquency, through a series of chain events. He argued that academic incompetence leads to poor school performance, which leads to a dislike of school, which then leads to a rejection of teachers and authority, which ultimately results in acts of delinquency. He argued that one's attachment to school depends on how one appreciates the institution and how one is received by fellow peers and teachers. It is also mentioned that one's attachment to parents and school overshadows the bond formed with one's peers (Hirschi 10).
With this knowledge, one is able assume that individuals are at high risk of becoming delinquent when there is no attachment or acceptance among their social surroundings. When parents have a lack of limitation on their child, or set high standards that the child cannot meet, or just is not given the opportunity to meet, that child will look for other ways to gain acceptance. They will find negative, unhealthy outlets to turn to. For example "A boy, seeking to satisfy the same basic needs for acceptance, companionship, and respect as other boys, is unable to obtain these from conventional groups because he cannot meet the terms on which they are granted; he turns to other groups whose terms-participating in their delinquent way of life-he can more easily meet" (Cohen 85).
Hirschi's second bond is that of commitment. Commitment involves time, energy and effort placed on the conventional lines of action. In other words, the support and equal partaking in social activities tie an individual to the moral and ethical code of society. Hirschi's control theory holds that individuals who build an investment in life, property and reputation are less likely to engage in criminal acts which will jeopardize their social position (Hirschi 1). Therefore, "The more one has, the more one has to lose" (Schlegel, K.).
The third bond discussed in Hirschi's theory is the bond of involvement. This addresses a preoccupation in activities which stress the conventional interests of society. Hirschi argues that an individual's heavy involvement in conventional activities doesn't allow enough time to commit delinquent acts. He believes that involvement in school, family, recreations, etc., insulates an individual from potential delinquent behavior that may be a result of idleness (Hirschi 8). For example, an individual that participates in school oriented sports, where the parents are supportive and encouraging will less likely participate in delinquent acts. The individual that isn't involved in any activities, and has a greater amount of free time, will look to fill that space with delinquent behavior.
The final bond of Hirschi's theory is that of belief. It deals with the assents to society's value systemwhich entails respect for laws, and the people and institutions which enforce such laws. Hirschi argued that people who live in common social settings share similar human values. If such beliefs are weakened or absent, one is more likely to engage in antisocial acts. Also, if people believe that laws are unfair, this bond to society weakens, and the likelihood of committing delinquent acts rises.
An example that there is a more or less straightforward connection between attachment to others and beliefs in the moral validity of rules appears evident through the following documentation "It is not the obligatory character of the rule laid down by an individual that makes us respect this individual, it is the respect we feel for the individual that makes us regard as obligatory the rule he lays down. The appearance of the sense of duty in a child thus admits of the simplest explanation, namely that he receives commands from older children (in play) and from adults (in life), and that he respects older children and parents" (Piaget 101).
An individual's decision to attend college can easily be based on Hirschi's theory. There are certain aspects of a person's life which encourage them to succeed. Not every individual was raised in a surrounding that gave them positive outlets, nor motivated them to achieve.
For instance, an individual that grew up in a loving family environment would have more self confidence than those that have not. As a result, she, the individual, was always made to feel important, unique, and special. Therefore, she had a growing start to building great confidence of herself. Also, because she was given attention, taught right from wrong and understood the consequences of every action that she would take, she would soon learn to understand and act out respect.
Learning to respect adults was a very important part of the individual's life. For example, the respect she gave to her teachers not only taught her valuable life lessons but also allowed her to earn and value their respect. She was also taught from an early age how important succeeding in school would affect her future; therefore she learned the value of an education. Due to the fact that the individual's parent's constantly pushed her to achieve higher, and never accepted anything less than her absolute best, she then had a sense of responsibility in achievement, and therefore would not want to give that up.
Having strong bonds with her family enabled the individual to make strong bonds with her peers. She knew the expectations that her parent's and respected adults had of her; therefore she did not associate herself with those that would bring her down. Keeping a positive surrounding around the individual at all times helped her to move forward and never fall back.
The individual found outlets that would benefit her in many ways. She began to play sports, and joined other organizations. With the encouragement of the people around her she trained and worked hard at everything she did. The achievements she received were priceless, and she was not willing to give them up by any means.
The individual became a well-rounded young adult. She learned to respect authority, find value in everything life had to offer, and always strived to succeed. There was never an idle part to her life because she was always going. Partly it was self-motivation, but she learned that self-motivation from her surroundings and bringing up.
With all that the individual has to offer, her next step would be to decide what she wants to do with her life. Falling under Hirschi's theory, the individual made strong bonds and has a growing attachment to the society around her. This has enabled her to understand what is out there and to somewhat know what she wants; she just has to find the right path to go down. In the past, the individual has always seemed to make the right decisions, so choosing to attend college was definitely one of those decisions.
Please note that this sample paper on social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society, we are here to assist you. Your cheap custom college paper on social control theory and how it effects an individuals role in society will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!
