The difference between Internal and External Controls.

Full Answer Section

Both internal and external controls play a role in deterring people from engaging in deviant behavior. However, internal controls are generally considered to be more important than external controls. This is because internal controls are more likely to be lasting and consistent, while external controls can be easily avoided or overcome.

Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory

Travis Hirschi's social bond theory is a criminological theory that seeks to explain why most people conform to the law and why some people deviate from it. The theory argues that people are less likely to engage in deviant behavior if they have strong bonds to society. These bonds include attachment to conventional others, commitment to conventional goals, involvement in conventional activities, and belief in the moral order.

• Attachment refers to the emotional ties that people have to their family, friends, school, and other conventional institutions.
• Commitment refers to the investment that people have in conventional society, such as their education, job, and property.
• Involvement refers to the amount of time and energy that people devote to conventional activities, such as school, work, and hobbies.
• Belief refers to the acceptance of the moral order, or the belief that the law is right and should be obeyed.

Hirschi argues that people with strong bonds to society are less likely to engage in deviant behavior because they are more likely to:

• Care about what others think of them
• Fear the consequences of getting caught
• See the benefits of conforming to the law
• Have a stake in conformity

Travis Hirschi and Gottfredson’s General Theory of Crime aka Low Self Control Theory

Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson's general theory of crime is a criminological theory that argues that low self-control is the primary cause of crime. The theory states that people with low self-control are more likely to engage in criminal behavior because they are impulsive, insensitive, and unconcerned about the future.

• Impulsivity refers to the tendency to act without thinking about the consequences.
• Insensitivity refers to the inability to feel empathy for others.
• Unconcern for the future refers to the tendency to focus on the present moment and not think about the long-term consequences of one's actions.

Hirschi and Gottfredson argue that low self-control is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. They also argue that low self-control is a stable personality trait that is difficult to change.

How Control Theories Can Be Linked to Different Aspects of Social Deviance

Control theories can be linked to different aspects of social deviance, such as crime, delinquency, and substance abuse. These theories argue that people who are less attached to conventional society, less committed to conventional goals, less involved in conventional activities, and less believe in the moral order are more likely to engage in deviant behavior.

For example, a study by Hirschi (1969) found that adolescents who had weak bonds to their parents were more likely to commit delinquent acts. Another study by Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) found that adults with low self-control were more likely to engage in criminal behavior.

Control theories have been criticized for being too simplistic and for not taking into account the role of other factors, such as poverty and discrimination, in crime and deviance. However, these theories remain influential in criminology and have been used to develop prevention and intervention programs.

Here are some examples of how control theories can be linked to different aspects of social deviance:

• Crime: People who are less attached to their families and communities, who have less to lose by getting caught, and who are more impulsive and insensitive are more likely to commit crimes.
• Delinquency: Adolescents who are less attached to their parents and schools, who have less to lose by getting caught, and who are more impulsive and insensitive are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior.
• Substance abuse: People who are less attached to their families and communities, who have less to lose by getting caught, and who are more impulsive and insensitive are more likely to abuse substances.

Sample Answer

• Internal controls are those that come from within the individual, such as conscience, moral beliefs, and self-esteem.
• External controls are those that come from outside the individual, such as the threat of punishment, social disapproval, and the fear of losing something valued.