Social Bond Theory: Hirschi's Social Bond Theory

Question #2 Hirschi’s social bond theory is a member of the social control paradigm and begins with the assumption that human beings are inherently drawn to deviant behaviour (King, 2016c, para 2). “Deviance is not socially created; it is inevitable unless mechanisms are socially created to prevent it” (King, 2016c, para 2). There are four types of social bonds that draw individuals away from criminality or deviance: Attachment, commitment, involvement and belief. Attachment refers to having significant others in ones life, along with a combination of supervision and caring. Strong and developed emotional ties with others such as families, peers and teachers can assist in the resistance from deviance and delinquency (King, 2016c, para 4). Moreover, “commitment can be called a stake in conformity” (King, 2016c, para 5). Commitment refers to the comparative act of determining whether violating a social norm is worth the risk, especially regarding social obligations such as occupations, education, family and other social institutions. …show more content…
Those who are heavily involved in social obligations are less likely to have the time to participate in deviant activities or criminality. Finally, belief refers to the acceptance of the dominant value system of society (King, 2016c, para 7). “It focuses on the values of respect, civility, tolerance, and acceptance of law and order” (King, 2016c, para 7). Those who respect the value system of society are less likely to adopt non-conformist beliefs and involve themselves in delinquency. According to social bonding theory, when each bond is strong, and individual will refrain from criminal