SOC-2107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Balance Theory, Perceived Control, Social Learning Theory
Document Summary
General theory of crime by gottfredson and hirschi claimed that control was a permanent internal state rather than an ongoing sociological product sustained by relationships and conventional order: they discovered several key elements in their research. Crime provides short term grati cation like excitement: people who are involved in crime also participate in dangerous behaviours which also give the same reaction such as smoking. Criminals often do not plan their crimes. Criminals fail in social domains like school and work. Crime is stable and therefore the chance that a youth o ender will continue to o end is high. These ndings are supported by other theorists like agnew and cullen, who found that low self control and aggressive attitudes can in uence rates of delinquency and violent o ences in youths. Sampson agrees that crime is stable; it is passed on through social bonds.