Brevard Community College

• SOC MISC

5. Compare and contrast Hirschi’s two theories. How would each theory propose we do to prevent crime? Crime is inevitable and will never be eradicated. Travis Hirschi claims that theories such as social bond theory and self-control theory can help society understand the causation of crimes. According to Hirschi, with his social bond theory, everyone has the potential to commit crimes, but it is the social bonds and ties that they share with friends, family, and other societal members that keep them from committing crimes (Essays, UK., 2018). The social control theory maintains that delinquency occurs because of weak social bonds and the stronger the social bonds of an individual to the conventional society, the less likely an individual will engage in activities that are against societal norms. The self-control theory states that low levels of self-control leads to an increased risk of criminal and delinquent involvement as well as a multitude of other risky behaviors. This theory claims that self-control is almost completely determined by parenting (Wickert, 2020). A child’s upbringing determines whether or not they will display high or low self-control. For instance, if a child’s wrongdoing is corrected then this child will have a relatively high-level of self-control. On the other hand, if a child’s wrongdoing is not corrected, this child will have lower levels of self-control. 7. How does Hagan’s power-control theory incorporate the dynamics of gender? Do you think his theory has more or less relevance today? Why? The power-control theory of gender and delinquency holds the gender distribution of delinquency is caused by stratification from gender relations within the family. The theory seeks to explain gender differences in the rates of delinquency by attributing them to the level of social/parental control practiced. The theory states that the class, gender, and type of family structure will influence the severity of social/parental control practiced which will in turn set the accepted norm for the child or individual. This norm will in turn control the level of delinquency by the individual. 8. Apply differential coercion theory to our current criminal justice system. According to theory’s concepts, is our current system expected to be effective? Why or why not? The theory argues social interactions, either coercive or supportive, figure into development of self-control, delinq