Anna Tsunoi
53686151
SOCI 250 Course paper: Theories on Drug Abuse
Word count: 2241
“Drugs” are substances that are taken by individuals that can alter the way the body and the human mind works. When an individual uses these substances in ways they are not meant to be used, attain them from unauthorized sources, or use more than the suggested amount, it is referred to as drug abuse. Drugs that are illegal in Canada are cocaine and crack, magic mushrooms, Heroin and Marijuana, Hash/Hash Oil. In addition to these drugs, there are a number of illegal synthetic drugs, which are hand made (Royal Canadian Mounted Police 2016). The prevalence of Marijuana use among Canadians who are 15 years old or older was 9.1% in 2011. In the same year, the use …show more content…
This theory suggests that an individual will carry out criminal behavior when the bonds they have with their surroundings is weakened. The four factors Hirschi uses to explain the idea of social bond are attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs. Attachment is the relationship or the connection an individual has with the society. Hirschi suggests that individuals with strong attachments with the environment and people around them are less likely to behave in a deviant manner compared to individuals with weak attachments. Commitment is the contribution and the engagement an individual has with social activities and social systems. Hirschi suggests that people who have been involved and committed to social norms, activities and institutions are less likely to carry out illegal actions. The theory hypothesized that people who are more committed have more to lose, in terms of relationships they have built up or the effort they have put into achieving their goals, if they behave in a deviant manner. Involvement refers to the amount of time an individual has spent in socially accepted institution. An individual who spends a long time in these institutions or socially accepted activities are less likely to act in a deviant manner because they do not have the time and the opportunity to take part in illegal activities. Hirschi’s last factor of social bonds is the …show more content…
I think the four aspects, attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs, accurately outlines how an individual may or may not become criminals. The theory can be applied to a wide range of deviant actions, and I felt that this theory was flexible, compared to the other two theories, in terms of application. For example, for the “attachment” aspect, it is argued that an individual with a strong connection with the society and socially respected values may refrain from carrying out illegal acts, but if an individual has a strong attachment to groups that challenge the socially valued norms, the individual is more likely to behave in a deviant way. Thus, the theory provides an idea of both, who is likely and who is less likely to become criminals. The general strain theory and the differential association theory both provide an idea on what can drive an individual to perform illegal activities, but they do not explain why some people decide not to behave in an illegal manner given that they experience strain or they are surrounded by deviant
53686151
SOCI 250 Course paper: Theories on Drug Abuse
Word count: 2241
“Drugs” are substances that are taken by individuals that can alter the way the body and the human mind works. When an individual uses these substances in ways they are not meant to be used, attain them from unauthorized sources, or use more than the suggested amount, it is referred to as drug abuse. Drugs that are illegal in Canada are cocaine and crack, magic mushrooms, Heroin and Marijuana, Hash/Hash Oil. In addition to these drugs, there are a number of illegal synthetic drugs, which are hand made (Royal Canadian Mounted Police 2016). The prevalence of Marijuana use among Canadians who are 15 years old or older was 9.1% in 2011. In the same year, the use …show more content…
This theory suggests that an individual will carry out criminal behavior when the bonds they have with their surroundings is weakened. The four factors Hirschi uses to explain the idea of social bond are attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs. Attachment is the relationship or the connection an individual has with the society. Hirschi suggests that individuals with strong attachments with the environment and people around them are less likely to behave in a deviant manner compared to individuals with weak attachments. Commitment is the contribution and the engagement an individual has with social activities and social systems. Hirschi suggests that people who have been involved and committed to social norms, activities and institutions are less likely to carry out illegal actions. The theory hypothesized that people who are more committed have more to lose, in terms of relationships they have built up or the effort they have put into achieving their goals, if they behave in a deviant manner. Involvement refers to the amount of time an individual has spent in socially accepted institution. An individual who spends a long time in these institutions or socially accepted activities are less likely to act in a deviant manner because they do not have the time and the opportunity to take part in illegal activities. Hirschi’s last factor of social bonds is the …show more content…
I think the four aspects, attachment, commitment, involvement and beliefs, accurately outlines how an individual may or may not become criminals. The theory can be applied to a wide range of deviant actions, and I felt that this theory was flexible, compared to the other two theories, in terms of application. For example, for the “attachment” aspect, it is argued that an individual with a strong connection with the society and socially respected values may refrain from carrying out illegal acts, but if an individual has a strong attachment to groups that challenge the socially valued norms, the individual is more likely to behave in a deviant way. Thus, the theory provides an idea of both, who is likely and who is less likely to become criminals. The general strain theory and the differential association theory both provide an idea on what can drive an individual to perform illegal activities, but they do not explain why some people decide not to behave in an illegal manner given that they experience strain or they are surrounded by deviant