Influences Of Social Bonds And Perceived Social Expectations On Adolescent Deviant Behavior Essay

Travis Hirschi developed the social control theory in 1969. He proclaimed that the primary reason for the influence delinquency is the lack of social bonds. The social bond theory is composed of four components: attachment, commitment. involvement, and belief. Individuals who do not have these components or who have very weak bonds are prone to delinquency. The first part of Hirschi’s theory is the attachment theory. The attachment theory focuses on a person’s emotional assurance and connection with certain individuals and groups, it also involves an individual’s sensitivity and ability to sympathize with others. Since Harris and Klebold were anti-social and often bullied they had poor relationships with friends or their highs school, or their family leaving them out casted and feeling alone. Harris and Klebold were emotionally committed to one another, are invested in one another spend a great deal of time interacting with one another and they created an attachment to one

A review of a wide range of literature indicates that researchers have conducted significant research on this particular topic on juvenile delinquency and the impacts that the general strain theory has had in understanding such behaviors. However, the majority of these studies have not been able to provide a clear connection between the negative behaviors shown among teenagers and youths and their criminal behaviors. In most cases, researchers argue that such behaviors may come about due to

When it comes to juvenile delinquency an adolescent personality is usually impacted from different factors such as early child hood experiences of witnessing a crime, seeing a violent act, being the victim of a crime, or being around others or family who engaged in criminal activity, these factors can either create an adolescent with a positive or negative attitude, or an anti-social behavior which could create a path for a delinquent behavior (Wilson, p. 34). A study has shown that family interactions accounts for about 40 percent of the cause of an adolescent with an anti-social behavior, the study also shown that aggressiveness which is a common trait of adolescent who engage in delinquent acts is usually created from peer influences (Wilson, p. 34).

Based on these findings, the conclusion that factors within the environment affected the behavior of the delinquents, citing (1) the absence or lack of controls for delinquents; (2) The behaviors are often condoned/ sanctioned by parents or other adults in the neighborhood; (3) the readily availability of opportunities to commit such unacceptable behaviors; and (4) lack of motivation, training, or opportunity for gainful employment (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Further, Shaw found that these activities began at an early age in males, instilled in them as games and other recreational activities. Here it is determined that “normal methods of official social control could not stop this process and that it was only later in a delinquent career that a boy identified himself with the criminal world” (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Thus, as Shaw perceived delinquency as a result of social disorganization, he believed the use of individualized treatment would not be effective in reducing the delinquency

Travis Hirschi developed two major control theories which are influential in criminology today (Lecture). Hirschi first theory was Social Bond Theory which he explained in his paper Causes in Delinquency, published in 1969 (Lecture). Hirschi criticized his theory and moved the locus of control from the person’s position in society to what internally drove the person not to commit crime (Cullen Text, Part VI). In 1990, Hirschi discounted Social Bond Theory and teamed up with Michael Gottfredson in the paper a General Theory of Crime where they explained their new theory, Self-Control Theory (Lecture).

Social Process theory views criminality as a socialization function. The theory explores how one learns things through interactions with various organizations, institutions, and processes in society. It also focuses on criminal behavior as being a learned behavior that affects every person regardless of race, class, or gender. Social process theorists believe that socialization with key social institutions help control human behavior, and that the most prominent elements are the individual’s family, peer group, school and church (Seigel, 2011, pg. 168). Thus, the key element in determining juvenile behavior, is the socialization the juvenile receives at home, school, and in the community.

This paper will discuss the effects that families and parents have on their children and parental criminal history in particular. Data suggests that family relations have a substantial impact on juveniles and their criminal paths (Agnew and Brezina 2012). Children who are raised by parents with a criminal history and/or have a parent missing due to criminal involvement are usually more prone to become involved in juvenile delinquency themselves. This paper will discuss and site studies conducted to prove this point and will discuss the four major sociological theories: social learning theory, control theory, strain theory, and labeling theory, to support these findings. This paper will ask the question the effect of parental involvement to a juvenile’s future and ask the question, are juveniles with distance or incarcerated parents more prone to delinquency themselves? If so, how do the four major sociological theories support this statement?

In 1969, a man named Travis Hirschi wrote and proposed something called the Social Control Theory. This theory can be applied in numerous kinds of ways when trying to address and solved social problems dealing with adolescents delinquent behavior. Before we can try to apply the Social Bond Theory, we must first understand the components and definition of the theory. Once we have a firm grasp of the theory, we can then look into our own lives and programs within our communities, to possibly provide support to strengthen the validity of the Social Bond Theory.

The current study will examine if deviant peers have a substantial impact on whether individuals commit general delinquency. Robert Akers (1979) differential association stands on its own for explaining a good portion of why adolescents commit delinquent acts. Higher levels of delinquent peers have a strong positive impact on delinquency. I will investigate whether or not exposure to deviant peers affects whether adolescents participate in general delinquency. In order to test the relationship between deviant peers and general delinquency data from wave 7 of NYS were analyzed. General Delinquency were operationalized by self reports using questions of how many of the individuals engaged in a variety of delinquent act in the past year. Time spent with friends will be operationalized using questions on how many hours in the past week did you spend with friends and peer delinquency will be using questions that of how many of the individuals friends participated in the different delinquent acts. It is hypothesized that delinquent peers affect whether individuals participate in general delinquency. I also hypothesize that time spent with friends and deviant peers will be associated with each

Family benefit status, a substitute for family deficiency, has a positive impact on juvenile offending. Finally, family construction and the education of the juveniles' parents also have an impact on delinquent behavior (1998). How can education, economic status and social problems decrease the rate of incarceration among Juveniles in America? Spence (1950 p.3) stated “that there is a wide agreement that delinquency is not to be thought of in terms of single factors or combination of factors but rather a relationship between a individual and his community” Spence goes on to say that intolerable but be found throughout all the interrelationships that exist between individuals and their communities. World Report (2003) says “In practice, many prevention approaches have proved ineffective. Studies show that shock incarceration (boot camp) does not reduce criminality. Short-term, “quick fix” job training has not lowered arrest rates. Neither traditional psychotherapy nor behavior modification has shown great promise as a vehicle for redirecting delinquent and criminal youth. A few methods—especially scare-oriented approaches or programs that place groups of delinquent youth together for extended treatment—have actually worsened the behavior of participants. Therefore a question must be asked, “What is the resolution to leading,

Obviously something is going on in today’s society if more and more children are committing delinquent crimes. Sometimes a researcher has to get to what he or she thinks is the root of the problem to figure out what spawns a certain issue. What provokes a child to become delinquent and what makes the child gravitate so easily towards this lifestyle? It is necessary to explore how family life influences juvenile delinquency. Juveniles are more likely to become juvenile delinquents if there is little structure provided for them in their families. Children who are rejected by their parents, who grow up in homes with considerable conflict, or who are inadequately supervised are at the greatest risk of becoming delinquent. Literature

In 1969, Travis Hirschi developed the Social Bond Theory. Like other social control theorists, Hirschi was interested in why the majority of society does not demonstrate delinquent behavior, as he believed most people had the natural capacity for such behavior. The social bond theory states that delinquent behavior in juveniles is not learned behavior, it is in fact a natural urge. However, the theory also states that there are social “bonds” which encourage socialization and conformity. The stronger these bonds for an individual, the less likely that individual will exhibit delinquent behavior. The four basic bonds are attachment, commitment, involvement and belief.

Using a theory from 1969 by Travis Hirschi, researchers begin to explore the causes of delinquency using Hirschi’s social control theory which is often referred to as social bonding theory. Hirschi’s theory states youth participate in delinquency because they lack strong affective attachments to their parents and this attachment to family encourages conformity by monitoring behavior and applying regular discipline (Mack, Lieber, Featherstone, & Monserud, 2006).

Psychologist have long recognized that the peer group has a powerful effect on human conduct and can have a dramatic influence on decision making and behavior choices. By interacting with deviant peers kids may learn both the techniques of crime and the attitudes necessary to support delinquency. Children will always seek social adulation from their friends by doing positive things or negative things,so adolescent peer relations will always be very closely linked to juvenile

Hirchi’s social bond theory describes the social bond that connects a person to the basic values and expected values of society. When the bond is weakened then people commit crime. This social bond is constructed in early childhood