Question

Using Hirschi’s Social Bond theory as your frame of reference, discuss the major ideas behind this perspective including: domain assumptions, the questions the perspective asks, how the theory differs from Merton’s strain theory, major criticisms made of the approach, and the applicability of the approach to juvenile justice.

Answer 1

Hirschi assumes in his social bonds theory that humans have a natural tendency to delinquency. The interesting question for him is what prevents people from violating norms. According to Hirschi, conformity is generated by social control. Hirschi distinguishes four different forms of social bonds and their influence on social control: attachment, commitment, involvement and belief.

Hirschi’s social bonds theory is based on the basic assumption that humans naturally tend towards delinquency. The interesting question for him is what prevents people from deviating from norms. Hirschi assumes that the stronger the degree of social control and the denser the network of social bonds are, the more likely people are to behave in accordance with standards.

Hirschi explicitly refers his theory (but not only) to adolescent delinquents and thus contradicts the assumption that delinquent adolescents exert a decisive influence on their peers of the same age.

By “social bonds” Hirschi understands elements of social cohesion (bonds). These include attachment to the family, commitment to socially accepted norms and institutions, involvement in activities and belief that these things are important.

Merton (1938) concluded that Americans were socialised into believing in the American Dream; that a consensus existed about what people's social goals should be: success and material wealth. However, equal access to those goals did not exist: there was a strain between the socially-encouraged goals of society and the socially-acceptable means to achieve them.

Merton does not consider the source of social goals, nor in whose interests society is socialised into believing.

Merton suggests an explanation for some non-utilitarian crime (like drug abuse), there is nothing in his theory that would explain fighting or vandalism. While not being able to achieve the American Dream might encourage someone to rob a bank, there is no apparent reason why it would lead to someone to draw graffiti on a bridge or to beat someone up.

One can criticize Hirschi’s control theory for the fact that the motivation to behave deviantly is simply assumed. Individual reasons for deviant behavior are ignored. Hirschi’s four variables are not easily applicable to all forms of crime. White Collar Crime can be seen as an example. People who commit this form of crime are usually well integrated into society and have strong bonds, at least at the levels of involvement and commitment.

Theory of social control is the assumption that persons will engage in delinquent behavior when their "social bond" to society is weakened. Hirschi's commitment construct is based on the premise that there is an association between level of commitment and propensity for deviance. So, somewhere it can be applicable for juvenile justice.