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Explain Juvenile Delinquency In Terms Of Hirschi”S Social Bonding Theory, With Special Reference To The Case Study

TITLE:
EXPLAIN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN TERMS OF HIRSCHI”S SOCIAL BONDING THEORY, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CASE STUDY
Table of Contents
Content
Introduction
Overview of Travis Hirschi's Social Bond Theory
Applying Hirschi’s Social Bonding Theory to the Case of Susan Fryberg
Critique of Self-Control Theory
Summary
Conclusion
References
Introduction
In this assignment I will try to explain juvenile delinquency in terms of Hirschi’s social bonding theory, with special reference to the case study of Susan Fryberg. I will briefly introduce you to Travis Hirschi and walk you thorough his social bonding theory. I will show how events that unfolded in Susan Frybergs life can be explained through Travis Hirschi’s social bonding theory. How the elements of attachment, commitment, involvement and belief would influence her life and her decisions ultimately ending in her detainment in a juvenile facility. I will also take a quick look at the implications that this theory has had on public policy reforms. Lastly I will try to expose some of the shortcoming of Travis Hirschi’s theory with a short critique thereof.

Introduction to Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory
Control theories take the opposite approach from other theories in criminology.  As their starting point, instead of asking what drives people to commit crime, they ask why most people not commit crime.  Control theorists generally argue that there is no problem explaining why people commit crime since all human beings suffer from innate human weaknesses which make them unable to resist temptation.  They focus on restraining or "controlling" factors that are broken or missing inside the personalities of criminals.  If these restraining factors are thought to involve society in some way, as with the sociological notion that norms are internalized, then the theory is said to be a "social" control theory, and is most probably a social bond theory.  Most...