NCJ Number
191034
Journal
Theoretical Criminology Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2001 Pages: 369-388
Editor(s)
Lynn Chancer,
Tony Jefferson
Date Published
August 2001
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article explored the relationship between social control and self-control theory, with a focus on the core concept of control.
Abstract
Control theories of crime seek to explain the factors that control human behavior in an attempt to understand why individuals conform to the rules of society. One particular explanation that seems to have withstood the test of time is the version of social control theory presented by Travis Hirschi in 1969. This article explored the relationship between social control theory (Hirschi, 1969) and self-control theory (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990), with reference to Hirschi’s criminological career. An important theme running parallel throughout was the development of scholarly ideas. It was suggested that focusing on Hirschi’s intellectual development enabled us to appreciate some of the theoretical shifts between his early and later work. The depth in the connection between social and self-control theory is a matter of some debate among commentators in the field. The connection between social control and self-control is most apparent in the case of parental supervision, where the disapproval of people whom one cares about is the most powerful sanction. Three key similarities between the two formulations of control have been highlighted. An emphasis on family attachment, a concern with overstating the influence of social factors, and a rejection of theoretical integration are evident in both approaches in varying degrees. However, it was argued that the two theoretical positions were based on fundamentally different principles, specifically in relation to the core concept of control. Regardless of the differences and inconsistencies between the theories, it was not suggested that there was an inherent incompatibility between all theories of social and self-control. References