Leading theorist, Travis Hirschi, argued that previous theories on criminal behavior were asking the wrong theoretical questions. They were simply exploring the motives behind crimes and why individuals committed crimes. According to Lilly, Cullen, and Ball (2015), previous “theories did not explain who would be a delinquent and who would not be a delinquent” (p. 115). However, Hirschi brought attention to those individuals who were not committing crimes through asking the primary question of what is preventing people from committing crimes? Hirschi explained, “it is conforming behavior, not deviance, that we must explain” (Reid, 2012, pp. 164-165). Therefore, Hirschi gathered his research through his observations of previous theories
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After gathering his research, Hirschi hypothesized that, society is made up of social bonds, and “delinquency is more likely when that bond is weakened” (Reid, 2012, p. 165). In addition, Hirschi identified attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief as the four independent variables that guide social bonds, whether strong or weak, and the dependent variable as the prevention of crime due to the strength of the social bonds between individuals or society. Simply put, a change in independent variable is a direct result if an individual will be deviant or not. Through is observations and hypothesis; Hirschi began empirically testing his theory in 1964 by conducting a self-report survey on 4,000 junior and seniors high school students in California (Reid, 2012, p. 165). According to Reid (2012), Hirschi’s sample was given “questionnaires designed to measure their attitudes toward friends, neighborhood, parents, school, teachers, and human relations” (p. 165). In addition, the sample was asked to respond to six types of offense, and for each offense they were asked to indicate at what level they committed …show more content…
According to Thomas (2012), Travis Hirschi was born in 1935 in Rockville, Utah, and is still living today (para. 1). He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1968. During his time at Berkeley, Hirschi wrote Causes of Delinquency (1969). This was the driving force behind the idea that weak social bonds caused criminal activity among adolescents (para. 2), and his popularity within the world of criminology. In his book, Causes of Delinquency (1969), Hirschi explained the four social bonds that make up the social bond theory. The four social bonds include: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Each make up the single idea of, if the individuals bond is weak with society then deviant behavior will occur. Hirschi’s background places an emphasis on juvenile delinquency and it can be seen in the social bond theory because the basis to which these bonds are focused on is in direct correlation to adolescents and
After gathering his research, Hirschi hypothesized that, society is made up of social bonds, and “delinquency is more likely when that bond is weakened” (Reid, 2012, p. 165). In addition, Hirschi identified attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief as the four independent variables that guide social bonds, whether strong or weak, and the dependent variable as the prevention of crime due to the strength of the social bonds between individuals or society. Simply put, a change in independent variable is a direct result if an individual will be deviant or not. Through is observations and hypothesis; Hirschi began empirically testing his theory in 1964 by conducting a self-report survey on 4,000 junior and seniors high school students in California (Reid, 2012, p. 165). According to Reid (2012), Hirschi’s sample was given “questionnaires designed to measure their attitudes toward friends, neighborhood, parents, school, teachers, and human relations” (p. 165). In addition, the sample was asked to respond to six types of offense, and for each offense they were asked to indicate at what level they committed …show more content…
According to Thomas (2012), Travis Hirschi was born in 1935 in Rockville, Utah, and is still living today (para. 1). He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1968. During his time at Berkeley, Hirschi wrote Causes of Delinquency (1969). This was the driving force behind the idea that weak social bonds caused criminal activity among adolescents (para. 2), and his popularity within the world of criminology. In his book, Causes of Delinquency (1969), Hirschi explained the four social bonds that make up the social bond theory. The four social bonds include: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Each make up the single idea of, if the individuals bond is weak with society then deviant behavior will occur. Hirschi’s background places an emphasis on juvenile delinquency and it can be seen in the social bond theory because the basis to which these bonds are focused on is in direct correlation to adolescents and