NCJ Number
108171
Date Published
1987
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Social control theorists assume that individuals are more likely to become involved in crime and delinquency if their bonds to conventional society are weak or broken.
Abstract
Those who are not attached to others, who are not committed to school or occupational goals, and who lack a strong belief in the legitimacy of the law will have the least to lose as a consequence of deviance. Research has provided stronger support for social control theory than for any of its competitors. Family, school, and religious bonds have all been found to be related to delinquency involvement. Family relationships are the most important. The evidence shows that parents who do not get along with their children, do not care about them, and do not supervise their activities are the most likely to be parents of delinquents. Now that the relationship between social bonding variables and delinquency is well-established, future research will likely follow three directions. More work will be done integrating social control variables with those of other theories. Structural aspects of the theory will be explored, and more policy-related research will be undertaken. 7 annotated references. (Author summary modified)