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CMY3701 SSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 2 - 2022 (775887)
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
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- Criminology
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CMY3701 ASSIGNMENT 1SEMESTER 2 - 2022
UNIQUE NUMBER: 775887
,Assignment Question:
Social control theory is of the view that people commit crime when the forces that bind
them to society are weakened or broken. Critically discuss Hirschi’s social bonding theory.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
2. Definitions of Key Concepts …………………………………………………………………………. 3
3. Discussion: Hirschi’s Social Bonding theory ………………………………………………….. 3-8
4. Contribution of the social bonding theory ……………………………………………………. 8
5. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
6. List of references …………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
1
, 1. Introduction:
It's believed that morality is the overarching facet that keeps society running smoothly, but
American criminologist, Travis Hirschi, believed there is a more nuanced answer stemming
from relationships within one's community. Hirschi felt that people were inherently self-
interested, meaning they would enact behaviors that benefited them, including keeping out
of trouble to ensure they could continue the life path they were traveling.
From this notion, Hirschi developed the social bond theory, also known as the social
bonding theory or social control theory. Hirschi's social bond theory seeks to explain why
most people refrain from crime versus engaging in criminal activities based on the premise
that people instinctually form social bonds. These social bonds become an unwritten
contract that keeps society running smoothly by the people within the community adhering
to social standards, avoiding the fate of losing a job, disappointing friends and family, and
jail time.
While sociology looks at human behavior from an outside perspective, the subset of
criminology seeks answers to why humans enact specific criminal behaviors. This ''why''
became the basis of Hirschi's social bond theory, as he wanted to know if he could predict
who would be more likely to engage in criminal activity. The social bond theory definition
encompasses the why of social bonds, but there are also nuanced elements within the
bonds, as such. From his premise of social bonding, Hirschi developed the categorization of
four elements he felt defined and described the social bonds that played a role in human
behavior in relation to illegal acts.
In this essay, I will be discussing Hirschi’s Social Bonding theory; while highlighting its
contribution to criminology.
2
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