Hirschi’s Social Bonding Theory

In criminology, researchers have constantly tried to explain why people commit crime and engage in juvenile delinquency. Many theories have emerged for over a century about why people commit these deviant behaviors. Macro-level theories focus on social structures and the effects of those structures on the human behavior. Basically, macro-level theories explains aggregate crime. Micro-level theories focuses on individuals and their interactions with various groups of people. For example, the relationship between family members, friends, and groups, that individuals interact with every-day, which explains individual criminal behavior. These interactions affect their attitudes, beliefs, and what seems normal for people. One of the most interesting theories that that tries to explain this, is Hirschi’s social bonding theory, which is based on how crime is the result of weakened bonds to society and is considered a micro-level theory.

This paper will define social bonding theory, explain its elements, and use a case study to apply this theory. The case study is based on a fifteen year old boy who is currently serving a life prison sentence. In addition, the paper will examine possible ways to prevent delinquency from occurring.

Discussion

Theory Explained and Four Basic Elements

Akers and Sellers (2013) explain that Hirschi’s theory postulated a person’s delinquent behavior is the result of his weakened bonds to his community, school, and social groups. Consequently, if those bonds are not strong, the individual’s attachment to certain groups, that he interacts with, will cause him to be closer to those types of people, even if they cause him to commit criminal acts. According to Krohn and Massey (1980), Hirschi’s theory, like ot...

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...ould have probably had a better life.

References Cited

Akers, R. L., & Sellers, C. S. (2009) Criminological theories: Introduction, evaluation, and application (Fifth ed). New York: Oxford University Press.

Bartollas, Clemens and Miller, Stuart J. (2013). Juvenile justice in america (7 ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, 58-90.

Booth, J., Farrell, A., & Varano, S. (2008). Social control, serious delinquency, and risky behavior: A gendered analysis. Crime & Delinquency, 54(3), 423-456.

Hanson, L. (2013, November 4). Life times six. The Virginia Pilot, pp. 1-6.

Hinton, W., Sheperis, C., & Sims, P. (2000). Family based approaches to juvenile delinquency. The Family Journal, 11(2), 167-173.

Krohn, M., & Massey, J. (1980). Social control and delinquent behavior: an examination of the elements of the social bond. The Socialogical Quarterly, 21(4), 529-544.