Posted: February 14th, 2023

Social Control Theory

Social Control Theory
We have learned about several theories in this course. For this paper, I want you to choose a theory below, explain the main points of that theory and provide an example of a serial offender who displays the traits of the theory you chose and explain the connection, so “prove” your case to me as to why you believe this offender falls under that theory. Make sense?

General Strain Theory Social Learning Theory Psychoanalytic Theory Biosocial Theory

Social Control Theory Labeling Theory General Theory of Crime

Your paper should be 2-4 pages (not including the cover page and reference pages), must be in APA format, have a minimum of 3 sources (the book can count as 1), and be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Use the Owl Purdue website for assistance with APA. Good luck!

Social Control Theory
Social control theory of criminology is based on the assumption that individual can see the advantages of crime making them capable of inventing or executing acts of crime without having any prior training. The theory includes the assumption that the impulse of committing a crime is resisted due to the costs related with committing the crime. It further assumes that primary costs of crime are the disapproval of the public about whom the potential perpetrator cares. The social control theorists believe the theory is derived by the by socialization and maintained peoples and institutional ties to a person (Lilly et al., 1995). The theory incorporates four elements that define the bond of an individual to people and institutions that play a significant role in controlling delinquent and criminal behavior. They include attachment, belief, involvement, and commitment.
The element of attachment involves the presense or lack of feeling or emotion within a social bond. The attachment can be associated with love, care, concern, affection, and respect. As per Glueck & Glueck (1950), family attachment, where both father and mother how affection and love towards a child helps in maintaining a child subsequent conformity to the rules of society. The element of belief in the control theory is based on the view that there are beliefs that contribute to delinquency and criminal behavior while others help in preventing them. The belief element is mostly utilized in youthful age, whereby one developed social bonds based on what the senior members around them belief. The element of involvement involves the opportunity or limited opportunity one has to commit a crime or engage in delinquent behavior. Control theory based on involvement theory claims that the social bond of individuals differ in terms of involvement on activities that limit opportunities for delinquency. Individuals that have a high opportunity to engage to activities that might promote delinquency have the high probability of committing crimes. Control theory also involves the idea of commitment, whereby the potential offenders calculate the costs and benefits of their intended criminal activity. The benefits of the crime tend to range from potential offender to another, with others considering monetary befits while others self-satisfaction, accomplishments, and aspirations. The four elements of social control are believed to interact towards insulating a person from involving in criminal behavior, with those less manage to maintain the familial and social bonds likely to get involved in crime (Siegel and McCormick, 2006).
Example of a serial offender who displayed the traits of social control theory is Ted Bundy. Bundy who is considered to have developed into an active serial killer in her 20’s, he sought to have raped and killed women, with the number of his victim ranging from 30 to 100 women. When basing on social control theory, Bundy was unable to developed attachment that could enable him to control unwanted urges like addiction to violent pornography. Bundy did not develop familial bond, with most his childhood lacking the fatherly and motherly love that he needed. His parents, whom he later learnt that were his grandparents did not show any kind of affection or love towards him. His grandfather was an abusive and violent man, both factors making resent from the social bonds. Although Bundy seemed to be a decent man in the society, he lacked the social control for suppressing the anger developed from lacking social bonds, being failed by those the thought to close to him, and his unusual fantasies.

References

Lilly, J.R., F.T. Cullen and R.A. Ball. (1995). Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage Publications.
Glueck, S., & Glueck, E. (1950). Unraveling juvenile delinquency. New York: Commonwealth Fund.
Siegel, L.J. and C. McCormick. (2006). Criminology in Canada: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies (3rd ed.). Toronto: Thompson.